An Almost End - August Reading Update

So I'm watching an afternoon Blue Jays game while Jo is at work. I won't make any comments as any time I say something I tend to jinx teams for whom I'm cheering. We've had a couple of rainy days and today it's sunny and fresh. Sort of perfect right now.

As we wind down August, I've completed two more books. Happy with my August reading. I'll provide the reviews of both and the synopses for the next to books in line. September will focus on Non-Fiction, besides my other normal challenges. I'll also provide synopses of a couple of new books as well.

Just Finished

1. The Stepdaughter by Debbie Howells (2020). A new author for me.

"The Stepdaughter, written in 2020, was my first exposure to British thriller writer, Debbie Howells. As of 2023, she has published 13 books. The Stepdaughter is an interesting mystery, told from the points of view of three characters; housewife, Elise, her daughter, Niamh, and police investigator Nicki. 

Niamh's friend, Holly is having problems at home but it's not clear what they are as she is very mysterious about them. Holly disappears and this starts a police investigation. Nicki is called in by her DI. She seems to have been off on some sort of medical leave (more will become apparent of course).

Elise is a stewardess and is away on day trips fairly regularly. Her relationship with husband, Andrew, a local GP, is strained. Andrew is domineering, cheats on her and is basically a nasty individual. Niamh is dealing with this as well as some other secrets.

When Holly's body is discovered, the investigation becomes more and more intense. There are also intimations of a local child porn ring. Nicki must determine if Holly's disappearance is related.

It's a very nebulous story at times, lots of threads that are difficult to grasp onto. The suspects keep changing, the secrets become irritating at times. I wanted to shout to the characters, 'Just tell the truth!!'. It is very much a psychological thriller, with spousal abuse (maybe), child porn (maybe). It was interesting all in all. The ending was somewhat unsatisfying but still, I found my intro to Howells' writing was interesting and worth continuing to explore. (4.0 stars)"

2. Vanish in an Instant by Margaret Millar (1952). Probably my favorite mystery writer. Check her out.

"I've said it before and I'll trumpet it again. Since I discovered her mysteries, Margaret Millar has become my favorite of the genre and just a favorite author. Vanish in an Instant, published in 1952, was no exception.

Philanderer Claude Margolis is found murdered and troubled Virginia Barkeley is charged with the murder, Virginia's mother and her assistant, Alice, fly to Michigan from California so Mrs. Hamilton can help her daughter. Lawyer Eric Meecham gets involved in the case. Before it goes too far, Virginia is released as Earl Loftus confesses to the murder.

Although Meecham isn't representing Earl, he finds himself continually involved in the case as he doesn't seem to believe that Earl did commit the murder. So the follow-on investigation and the relations between the various characters is where the story continues to develop.

I love how Millar develops and presents one of her stories. There is a clarity to her writing. Each and every character, no matter how minor, seem real and accessible and add to the richness of the story. Millar presents the setting so you feel you are there, feeling the chill and dampness. You get to know the characters. Meecham and Alice, especially are interesting and their developing relationship grabs you and pulls you in. It's an interesting story and even though the ending was a bit nebulous, it was satisfying and the story was pretty darn good. I've ordered two more of Millar's books. I look forward to trying my next one. (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962). A book I should have read many, many years ago.

"Silent Spring came as a cry in the wilderness, a deeply felt, thoroughly researched, and brilliantly written argument that changed the course of history. Without this book, the environmental movement might have been long delayed or never have developed at all.

-- from the Introduction by Vice President Al Gore

Rarely does a single book alter the course of history, but Rachel Carson's Silent Spring did exactly that. The outcry that followed its publication in 1962 forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson's passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century.

Silent Spring served as a touchstone for Al Gore while he was working on his widely praised, bestselling book on the environment, Earth in the Balance. Now Rachel Carson's message is more important than ever, and no one is more qualified than Al Gore to introduce her classic book to a new generation of readers."

2. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu (2008).

"In the years between the end of WWII & the mid-1950s, the popular culture of today was invented in the pulpy, boldly illustrated pages of comic books. But no sooner had comics emerged than they were beaten down by mass bonfires, congressional hearings, & a McCarthyish panic over their unmonitored & uncensored content. Esteemed critic David Hajdu vividly evokes the rise, fall & rise again of comics in this engrossing history."

New Books

1. Wallace of the Secret Service by Alexander Wilson (Wallace #3).

"Extreme Nationalists are fighting to relinquish the British government’s power in Egypt. Secret agent Henderson, deployed to Egypt to assess the trouble, sends a coded message to say he’s on the trail of something big. But there’s been no word since."

2. The First Lady of WWII: Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back by Shannon McKenna Schmidt (2023).

"The first book to tell the full story of Eleanor Roosevelt's unprecedented and courageous trip to the Pacific Theater during World War II. On August 27, 1943, news broke in the United States that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was on the other side of the world. A closely guarded secret, she had left San Francisco aboard a military transport plane headed for the South Pacific to support and report the troops on WW2's front lines.  Americans had believed she was secluded at home. As Allied forces battled the Japanese for control of the region, Eleanor was there on the frontlines, spending five weeks traveling, on a mission as First Lady of the United States to experience what our servicemen were experiencing... and report back home. "The most remarkable journey any president's wife has ever made." ― Washington Times-Herald , September 28, 1943 "Mrs. Roosevelt's sudden appearance in New Zealand well deserves the attention it is receiving. This is the farthest and most unexpected junket of a First Lady whose love of getting about is legendary." ― Detroit Free Press , August 28, 1943 "By a happy chance for Australia, this famous lady's taste for getting about, her habit of seeing for herself what is going on in the world, and, most of all, her deep concern for the welfare of the fighting men of her beloved country, have brought her on the longest journey of them all―across the wide, war-clouded Pacific." ― Sydney Morning Herald , September 4, 1943 "No other U.S. mother had seen so much of the panorama of the war, had been closer to the sweat and boredom, the suffering." ― Time , October 4, 1943"

So there you go, some reading ideas for you. Check them out.

A Saturday Update

Marco Arop with one of Canada's medals today

Good and bad today in the sports world. (From my perspective at any rate). I picked to Brighton Seagulls for my Fantasy Footie league and of course I jinxed them and they lost today. Isn't that always the way? But the Blue Jays won a game, although I'm thinking they may have wasted their opportunity to take part in play-off baseball. I'm hoping I'm wrong. Oh and Canada had 4 medals at today's World Track and Field Championships; a gold in the 800 meter finals, a gold and silver in the Decathlon and a silver in the shot putt. That goes with gold's in both the men's and women's hammer throw earlier in the week. So congrats to the Canadians!!! 

Jo and I went for lunch to Benino's today and I finally won a couple of games of Sequence. Now we're relaxing with the puppies, watching highlights of the Blue Jays.

So a quick reading update. I've finished one book since my last update. I'll update that and also the next book in line. Oh, I bought a book on Wednesday when I went out to pick Jo up from work. So I'll also provide the synopsis of that.

Just Finished

1. The Curse of the Gloamglozer by Paul Stewart (The Edge Chronicles / Quint Trilogy #1 / 2001).

"The Curse of the Gloamglozer  is the first book in the Edge Chronicles and also the first book in the Quint trilogy by Paul Stewart. I have to admit that it's somewhat confusing when you look up the series to ascertain which one to start with. As I understand it, it's not critical which one you read as they all work as standalones. Anyway.....

In this introduction we meet Quint, son of a sky pirate, who is placed with the High Academe of Sanctaphrax, a great rock (planet) that floats in space. Quint will go to school with Linius Pallitax's daughter, Maris. As Quint goes to school and adjusts to the intrigues and classes in Sanctaphrax, he will also help Linius in a special secret project in the center of the big rock. This project will also almost kill Linius and will result in Quint and Maris risking their own lives to discover what it is in the center that Linius was doing.

It's a wonderful, rich fantasy, with great characters, great adventure and mystery and an entertaining story. As well you've got the excellent drawings of Chris Riddell (Goth Girl and Ottoline) to make it even richer. I've got the next two books in the Quint trilogy on my bookshelf and look forward to reading the complete Edge Chronicles. (4.5 points)"

Currently Reading

1. Something  Borrowed, Something Black by Loren D. Estleman (Peter Macklin #4 / 2002).

"Peter Macklin, contract killer--retired--has found himself the perfect woman. He's convinced young, beautiful, innocent Laurie that he is simply a salesman from Detroit, and they're passionately honeymooning in Los Angeles. . . . until the phone call. Peter tells Laurie he has to go to Sacramento to take care of business, and he'll be back in a day. After a day passes, though, a man called Abilene shows up with a note from Peter saying Abilene will take care of her until his return.

Macklin's retirement seems to have been premature, and Laurie's innocence is about to end . . ."

New Books

1. Prophet by Helen MacDonald / Sin Blache (2023). A brand new book, just released that sounded interesting.

"Adam Rubinstein and Sunil Rao have been nemeses and reluctant partners since their Uzbekistan days. Adam is a seemingly unflappable American Intelligence officer; Rao is ex-MI6, an addict and rudderless pleasure-hound with an uncanny ability to discern the truth about anything and anyone--except Adam.

Adam and Rao have gone their separate ways until they are called back together when a full-sized, 1950s American diner shows up in an English farmer's field and a mysterious death ensues. What follows is a reality-twisting, action-filled quest as the unlikely duo begin to uncover how and why people's fondest memories are being manifested and weaponized against them, in increasingly bizarre and tangible forms, by a spooky, ever-shifting substance called Prophet. Adam and Rao must find a way to stop these malevolent entities from taking over a world that is just one perilous step from our own."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Maj Sjowall

Maj Sjowall

Maj Sjowall is a Swedish crime writer who collaborated with her partner Per Wahloo in the writing of the Martin Beck mystery series. She was born in Stockholm in 1938 and died in Landskrona in 2020, Over the course of her life, she and Per wrote 10 books in the Beck series. Thus far I've enjoyed 2 of them and have another on my bookshelf.

1. The Man Who Went up in Smoke (Martin Beck #2 / 1966).

"The Man Who Went Up in Smoke is the 2nd book in the Martin Beck mystery series, set in Sweden, by author Maj Sjöwall. Beck is a police inspector working out of the Stockholm Homicide Squad. 

In this story, Beck is finally, after a long while, going on vacation with his family. His boss tells him to lock up his desk and Beck makes sure his apartment is cleaned up and then he catches the boat to the island where his family awaits. (This is very nicely described, almost boringly, but you can picture Beck's actions, hear his thoughts). Not even being able to enjoy one day of vacation, Beck is called back to Stockholm.

A reporter, Alf Mattison, is reported missing in Hungary. The Foreign office wants Beck to go to Budapest and conduct an informal investigation. Reluctantly, Beck agrees, risking the anger of his wife due to putting police work over his family.

Beck heads off to Budapest and on arrival, begins an investigation. He is quite frustrated because he really doesn't have any info to work with. This investigation will involve the Swedish embassy, the Budapest police (Inspector Szulaka is a great character.) Is he helping Beck or tailing him? Also involved is a sexy, female predator. Is she trying to get Beck into a compromising situation? 

In some ways the story reminds me of the Inspector Gideon mystery series or Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series. It's a police procedural, with the difference in this case being that Beck, instead of using his normal team, works with another police department. But, even having said that, he still communicates with those personnel and the final resolution comes about back in Stockholm.

Don't look for tons of action, even though there will be some. It's methodical, thoughtful, clearly described and flows along so well. Beck is a great character (why did it take so long to get to this 2nd book, I ask myself??). I like how he interacted with Inspector Szulaka and also with his people back in Stockholm especially with his partner Killberg. There was a crustiness, that curt style that people who know and trust each other sometimes use. I enjoyed it very much and the resolution was maybe somewhat pat but still interesting and satisfying. Now to get the 3rd book. (4 stars)"

2. Roseanna (Martin Beck #1 / 1965).

"This is the first Martin Beck police procedural and I found it very interesting. I've found in some cases that the translation of Scandinavian mysteries can be hit or miss. This translation was excellent and helped portray Sjowall's style and story-telling very well. I liked the methodical way the story is approached, the hit and miss of the investigation, the boring aspects of waiting for a break when there are no clues. Martin Beck is a tired police investigator, not happy with his family life and gets deeply involved in trying to solve this case. The mystery is interesting, a dead girl's body dredged up by a boat cleaning up a canal. The case involves the investigation, first trying to identify the young woman and then, trying to solve her murder. Excellent story and nicely tense ending. (4.0 stars)"

3. The Abominable Man (Martin Beck #7 / 1971).

"The gruesome murder of a police captain in his hospital room reveals the unsavory history of a man who spent forty years practicing a horrible blend of strong-arm police work and shear brutality. Martin Beck and his colleagues feverishly comb Stockholm for the murderer, a demented and deadly rifleman, who has plans for even more chaos. As the tension builds and a feeling of imminent danger grips Beck, his investigation unearths evidence of police corruption. That’s when an even stronger sense of responsibility and something like shame urge him into taking a series of drastic steps, which lead to a shocking disaster."

The complete listing of Sjowall's work can be found at this link. Check her out.

A Midweek Reading Update

Happy Wednesday. It's cloudy and cooler today. Jo is at work and the puppies and I are relaxing on the sofa, watching Deadline White House, the continuing saga of the Trump criminal conspiracy in Georgia. Yada yada.

Since my last update, I've completed 3 books and got a few more in the mail. I'll update those and also the latest books I've started reading.

Just Finished

1. The Sandman, Fables and Reflections; Vol. 6 by Neil Gaiman. It's become one of my favorite graphic novel series.

"I continue to enjoy this excellent graphic novel series. Each volume is different and seems to get better. Fables and Reflections is Volume #6 of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Most enjoyable.

As the title indicates it consists of fables and historical reflections. Each story follows a different character (for the most part). There is a 3 chapter portion featuring Sandman's son Orpheus and his journey to Hades to find his dead wife, Eurydice. It's a sad story for the most part. 

The other stories feature diverse characters such as a werewolf, Caesar Augustus, Marco Polo, Joshua Abraham Norton, the only Emperor of the US of A, Haroun Al Raschid (King of Kings). Dream (aka Sandman) appears in each story but you also get to meet some of his family in others, Despair, Death (my favorite), Eve, Cain, Abel, etc. 

Each story is interesting, well - crafted and drawn. The stories are rich and actually provide you with some history / mythology. Neil Gaiman has such a fantastic imagination and he really knows how to tell a story that holds your interest and attention until the very end. I'm looking forward to Vol #7), Brief Lives. (4.0 stars)"

2. Quiller Barracuda by Adam Hall (Quiller #14 / 1990). An interesting spy series that I've been reading not in any particular order.

"I haven't been reading this series in any particular order. I've read two previous books in this spy series. Quiller Barracuda by Adam Hall is the 14th book in the series and finds Quiller on assignment in Florida. His mission is to  find and bring home an agent, Charles Proctor, who seems to have gone off the radar, after starting to act irrationally. Quiller will find himself involved in political intrigue and also with Florida drug dealers as he gets involved in this story.

The Quiller books are quite different in tone from other spy series I've read. Quiller spends much of the book in his own self-analysis, at the same time moving the story along. I also find it interesting how they conduct the 'administration' (wrong word, I think) of conducting a mission. Quiller is the Executive, his name on the big board at MI6, assigned to Barracuda. Ferris is his Controller, sent to Florida to debrief Quiller, to assign followers, to maintain security and to provide the link back to London. The whole process is fascinating.

Quiller finds himself in an international plot, a group that wants to affect an upcoming Presidential election, affect the World order. Proctor is involved, he's hooked on drugs, he wants Quiller dead and has set a contract out with the local drug lord. The Russians may be involved. It's a complex, interesting plot. There are various intelligent, independent, beautiful women who help Quiller in various ways to advance his investigation. There is a terrifying episode involving a shark.

It's an interesting take on the spy story and I will continue to explore the series. (4.0 stars)"

3. Gun Honey Volume 2, Blood for Blood by Charles Ardai. I'm getting hooked on these pulp crime series.

"Gun Honey, Vol. 2: Blood for Blood by Charles Ardai continues the adventures of gun smuggler, Joanna Tan. In Vol 1 of this Hard Crime graphic novel series, she discovered who murdered her family. In this volume, Joanna is a target of an assassin. She and her new partner, Brook, hunt for a female assassin (she used to work with Brook in the 'CIA'), who is trying to frame Joanna for murders.

The adventure takes Joanna and Brook to Montana, South Dakota, Italy and even Monaco. There are drug manufacturers, the type who make ecstasy... a really powerful version. They bear some responsibility for a rave that resulted in many deaths. So, basically someone is out for vengeance, against Joanna and against the drug dealers. (maybe... )

There is action on action. There is violence. There is nudity. Hard Case crime, a thriller on high speed. Just a break from reality. (3.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch Archeological Mysteries #4 / 2000). It's been awhile since I read one of the stories in this mystery series featuring Canadian antique dealer who finds herself embroiled in mysteries around the world as she searches for artifacts to sell in her Toronto store.

"Toronto shopkeeper and amateur sleuth Lara McClintoch heads to Ireland to assist a friend at the reading of the will of an eccentric businessman, who sends his friends and family off on a bizarre treasure hunt, whose clues are drawn from an ancient Celtic poem, but Lara soon discovers that the grand prize could just be murder."

New Books

1. The Mask of Glass by Holly Roth (1957). I've tried a couple of Roth's spy stories and enjoy the stories and the writing style.

"Jimmy Kennemore, of the U.S. Army's Counter-Intelligence Corps, woke up in hospital and could not move for plaster casts. Twenty-four hours earlier he had been a normal, pleasant young man, working on a completely routine investigation. Regaining consciousness, he found himself injured and disfigured, and his red hair turned to white.

Now, through his pain-fogged mind, he had to begin the desperate and tortuous piecing together of the monstrous events that had led to a shocking night of violence and deprived him of identity, friends, and future. But there were other events to come, events that were to assume the proportions of a nightmare and to carry him forward into that international No-Man's Land where human life is the cheapest and most expendable commodity."

2. Money Shot by Christa Faust (Angel Dare #1 / 2008).

"It all began with the phone call asking former porn star Angel Dare to do one more movie. Before she knew it, she'd been shot and left for dead in the trunk of a car. But Angel is a survivor. And that means she'll get to the bottom of what's been done to her even if she has to leave a trail of bodies along the way..."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Dorothy L. Sayers

Dorothy L. Sayers

Dorothy Leigh Sayers was born in Oxford, England in 1893 and died Witham, Essex, England in 1957. She is best known as one of the four Queen's of Crime during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. The other authors were Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh. She is best known for her Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. I've read four books of the 15 books series, written from 1923 - 1939. I have another 8 or 9 books awaiting my attention. It's been a few years since I visited the series so I hope to read at least one this year. I'll highlight the three books I purchased most recently to give you an idea about this entertaining series.

1. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (#4 / 1928).

"Ninety-year-old General Fentiman was definitely dead, but no one knew exactly when he had died—and the time of death was the determining factor in a half-million-pound inheritance. Lord Peter Wimsey would need every bit of his amazing skills to unravel the mysteries of why the General's lapel was without a red poppy on Armistice Day, how the club's telephone was fixed without a repairman, and, most puzzling of all, why the great man's knee swung freely when the rest of him was stiff with rigor mortis."

2. Murder Must Advertise (#8 / 1933).

"When ad man Victor Dean falls down the stairs in the offices of Pym's Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, it looks like an accident. Then Lord Peter Wimsey is called in, and he soon discovers there's more to copywriting than meets the eye. A bit of cocaine, a hint of blackmail, and some wanton women can be read between the lines. And then there is the brutal succession of murders -- 5 of them -- each one a fixed fee for advertising a deadly secret."

3. Busman's Honeymoon (#11 / 1937).

"Society’s eligible women are in mourning. Lord Peter Wimsey has married at last, having finally succeeded in his ardent pursuit of the lovely mystery novelist Harriet Vane. The two depart for a tranquil honeymoon in a country farmhouse but find, instead of a well-prepared love nest, the place left in a shambles by the previous owner. His sudden appearance, dead from a broken skull in the cellar, only prompts more questions. Why would anyone have wanted to kill old Mr. Noakes? What dark secrets had he to hide? The honeymoon is over, as Lord Peter and Harriet Vane start their investigations. Suspicion is rife and everyone seems to have something to hide, from the local constable to the housekeeper. Wimsey and his wife can think of plenty of theories, but it’s not until they discover a vital fact that the identity of the murderer becomes clear."

You can check out all the books written by Dorothy Sayers at this link.

A Week Passes So Quickly

I was just checking when I did my last update and lo and behold it was last Friday! Time flies when you're having fun. I've read three books since then so I'll update them and provide the synopses of my next books and also of any new books (assuming I received an this week) It'll be a surprise. 😎

Just Finished

1. Death at Dawn by Caro Peacock (Liberty Lane #1 / 2007).

"Death at Dawn by Caro Peacock introduces Liberty Lane, a Victorian woman, who, in this first story, is caught up in political intrigue and a possible attempt to overthrow Victoria's ascension to the throne.

Liberty lives with relatives while her father Jacques is traveling in continental Europe, escorting young rich men on tours of Italy and France. Liberty's brother is in India. Liberty gets a message from her father that he is returning and she is to meet him in London. Disregarding her father's instructions, she heads instead to Dover to meet him. Liberty ends up crossing the channel and going to Calais where she discovers her father has been killed 'in a duel' (purportedly).

She meets a variety of people in Calais and a kidnapping is attempted, from which she escapes. Liberty is hired by an elderly gentleman, Mr. Blackstone, to go to an estate north of London and pretend to work as a governess. Something is going on!

Liberty has two aims; one is to help Mr. Blackstone to discover what is going on at the Mandeville estate and the to discover who murdered her father. Oh yes, she also has acquired a horse from her father which Mr. Blackstone agrees to board nearby, along with Rancie's (the horse) keeper, a very nice man by the name of Amos Legge. 

Something mysterious is going on at the Mandeville estate, Mandeville being a most unlikeable character. It is something to do with a possible challenger to Victoria's taking over the throne. As well, Liberty gets involved in helping Mandeville's stepdaughter Celia try to elope with her lover.

It's an interesting introduction to Liberty Lane, penniless, energetic and a smart woman. There are many things going on, mysterious happenings, questions about who is / are the bad guy(s) and who might be willing to help Liberty. The style reminds me somewhat of the Mary Russell mysteries by Laurie King. It flows nicely with the action building steadily. The plot is interesting and the ending was fairly satisfactory. I've got the next in line and look forward to getting into it. (3.5 stars)"

2. Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony by Chris Riddell (Goth Girl #4 / 2017).

"Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony by Chris Riddell is the 4th and final book in the excellent Goth Girl YA fantasy series. (There was also a 5th book, #2.5). Like the others, this was humorous, entertaining and a well-drawn story.

Ada Goth and her friends discover that Ada's dad, Lord Goth has organized a symphony for the locals. His mother, Sparkling Lady Carole, is also coming for a visit, accompanied by three young ladies, all potential brides for Lord Goth and step mother for Ada.

The symphony is being organized by Lord Goth's shady estate manager Maltravers and Ada and her friend's in the attic club feel the need to keep an eye on him. Lots of fun and neat pop culture references in this story, as you find in all of them. There is even an appearance by a certain Donald Ear-Trumpet and his bored wife Moravia. (He is described thusly - 'Donald Ear - Trumpet had very tiny hands which he was very self-conscious about. This was why he was obsessed with very big things, especially cannons')

But there are other neat characters, with references to pop culture and other stories. There is Shaun the Faun who may have come from the Narnia series. There is Bjork Bjorksdottir who is a member of the all girl band the Ladies of G.A.G.G.A. There is Tailor Extremely-Swift who accompanies Sparkling Lady Carole as her dress maker but is so much more than that.

I won't ruin the story by telling more about it. Suffice it to say it's a fun story and a suitable satisfactory ending to this excellent series. Try it with your young children. It'll be fun for them but like most successful YA stories, fun also for adults. (4.0 stars)"

3. Slaves of Heaven by Edmund Cooper (1974).

"Slaves of Heaven by Edmund Cooper is the 3rd Sci Fi story from Cooper I've enjoyed since I discovered his work. He's not my favorite author in the Sci Fi genre but he is worth checking out.

In The Slaves of Heaven, we find a dystopian Earth. Earthmen, and this starts off in what was previously England. Humans are basically wanderers and live in tribes and often go to war against each other. There is another adversary who attacks at night, the Night Comers, who invade the various camps and steal away with the tribe's women. 

Berry is the chief of the Londos tribe and he wants to stop wandering and build a permanent settlement. There is a risk to this. It makes them more susceptible to the Night Comers. There are hot spots throughout England and presumably the rest of the world. Berry finally gets his tribe to agree and they set up a camp. But one night, the Night Comers come, disable the men and steal off with the women. Berry manages to avoid being disabled and follows the attackers. He is captured and then finds himself in a city in the stars.

This begins the 2nd part of the story where Berry tries to save his wife and becomes a 'pawn' of one of the groups in this city, the Technos. He is the 'arrow' to the bow, so to speak. Berry will learn where he is, he will be given knowledge of the past of Earth, of technology, etc. and will use it to try and save Earth.

It's a neat story, flows nicely and has enough action to satisfy the reader. The playing off of Berry and his enemies is well presented. It's an interesting story, maybe a bit simple, but entertaining nonetheless. I do have a couple of other of Cooper's Sci Fi stories awaiting my attention and look forward to continuing to explore is work. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Mystery of Tunnel 51 by Alexander Wilson (Wallace of the Secret Service #1 / 1928).

"BOOK 1 in the Wallace of the Secret Service Series. Sir Leonard is not the man to desire fame or notoriety. His chronicler has been forced to fall back on office records and information supplied by various members of the secret service, to tell of the struggles of Wallace and his intelligence officers and their battles against the Soviet Union, terrorism and subversion in the British Empire, Nazi Germany and the tentacles of global organized crime."

2. Vanish in an Instant by Margaret Millar (1952). One of my favorite, if not favorite, mystery authors.

"Arrogant Virginia Barkeley, charged with the murder of Claude Margolis, is sleeping off a hangover in an Arbana jail.

Small - town America in the Fifties isn't used to homicide, and lawyer Eric Meecham hasn't had much practice at defending murderers in the dock.

Luckily for him, Earl Loftus appears and confesses to killing Margolis. A young man with a bloodstained trench coat to prove his guilt, Loftus has little in the way of motive and few friends; his only remaining family is an alcoholic mother. He himself is on the verge of death. Loftus is, it would seem, a man with nothing in the world to lose."

There you go. Jo will be home from work soon so I'd better finish making dinner. Have a great night.

A Friday Update

Borrowed hummingbird photo

Jo is at work and the pups and I are relaxing so I figured it might be a good idea to do a weekend update. It's been an interesting week or so. We've had two visitors in the past seven days or so. And, no, not people, birdies. We've been keeping the front door open and the patio door to get a breeze through while it was hot. We were sitting on the couch in the family room last week or so and Jo heard a noise. We went into the front hallway and lo and behold there was a hummingbird trying to get out the window at the top of the hallway. It's a good 10 feet up. We pondered how to get the poor thing, then I got the expansion ladder and climbed up and caught it in a storage container Jo found. Once I sealed it in, I gave it to Jo and she released it to the wild.

The other morning while the pups and I were relaxing in bed, a sparrow flew into the bedroom. I was indeed surprised. I have no idea how it got in unless it flew in the front door when I came home from walking the dogs. Anyway, I got it cornered in the bathroom, caught it in a towel and brought it downstairs and released it. It's not the first times we've had birds in the house. There have been at least two other occasions. We've managed to catch them and let them go each time. I can't understand what they find so attractive in our house, must be our wonderful personalities. LOL.

So now for a quick update. I've finished one book since my last update and I'll provide that review and update any other new books I've received, plus continue with my look at Women Authors whose Works I've been enjoying.

Just Finished

1. Peepland by Christa Faust (2017).

"Peepland is a graphic novel from the Hard Case Crime publishing company, this story written by Christa Faust. It portrays a gritty New York, before it was gentrified, with nudity, violence, bad cops, all the good things. There are references to the Central Park Five story in this one, although with different outcomes. There are also crooked politicians willing to do anything to help their career advance.

Roxy Bell works in a peep show posing for men willing to pay. Dirty Dan who makes a living filming women in the nude and doing commercials, runs into her booth and hides a video tape in the lining of the chair that the customers use. He is killed later on, falling in front of a subway train. Roxy takes the tape and watches it with a friend. It shows a murder of a young woman and also the murderer's face.

On the murder front, the police arrest a group of black teenagers. The henchmen of the father of the murderer hunt for the tape. Roxy and her boyfriend, a punk rocker, try to find out how to get the tape to the police in order to save the boys, one of whom is the sun of Roxy's best friend, another employee of the peep show.

So there is your story... oh, are the cops working the case honest? Oh yes, don't forget the attempted blackmail.

It's an action-packed story, a real page turner. Roxy and Nick are also trying to stay alive, one step ahead of the goons. Well drawn (although I did find some of the characters looked a bit like others, so a tad confusing at times). But entertaining and interesting. (3.0 stars)"

New Books

1. Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan #5 / 1916). It's been fun reading this series so far.

"In the forgotten city of Opar, the bloodied sacrificial altar of the Flaming God stood above vaults piled high with the gold destined for fabled, lost Atlantis. There La, the beautiful high priestess, still dreamed of Tarzan, who had escaped her knife before. Around her, the hideous priests vowed that he should never escape again. For now Tarzan was returning and they were waiting for him. Tarzan planned to avoid La and the priests. But he could not avoid the earthquake that struck him down in the vaults and left him without memory of his wife or home - only with what memory he had had as a child among the savage apes who reared him."

2. The Blood Royal by Barbara Cleverly (Joe Sandilands #9 / 2011). This historical mystery series featuring Scotland Yard inspector Joe Sandilands has gotten better and better.

"Murder, mystery and espionage set in London in the long, hot summer of 1922, against the backdrop of the Romanov murders and the disappearance of the tsar’s fortune.

A beautiful and traumatized young Russian woman turns herself in at the British consulate in Russia, begging to be sent to relatives in England and rescued from the mysterious tragedies of her past. But is she what she seems, or is she a deadly spy on a secret mission?"

3. The Distant Dead by Lesley Thomson (The Detective's Daughter #8 / 2021). I enjoyed the first story in this mystery series. I've gathered a few others to continue my exploration of it.

"London, 1940

A woman lies dead in a bombed-out house. It looks like she's another tragic casualty of the Blitz, until police pathologist Aleck Northcote proves she was strangled and placed at the scene. But Northcote himself has something to hide. And when his past catches up with him, he too is murdered.

Tewkesbury, 2020
Beneath the vast stone arches of Tewkesbury Abbey, a man has been fatally stabbed. He is Roddy March, an investigative journalist for a podcast series uncovering miscarriages of justice. He was looking into the murder of police pathologist Dr. Aleck Northcote – and was certain he had uncovered Northcote's real killer.

Stella Darnell used to run a detective agency alongside her cleaning business. She's moved to Tewkesbury to escape from death, not to court it – but Roddy died in her arms, and Stella is someone impelled to root out evil when she finds it. Now she is determined to hunt down Roddy's killer – but then she finds another body.."

4. The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie (Age of Madness #2 / 2020). The first book in this fantasy series was excellent.

"Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion.

Peace is just another kind of battlefield...

Savine dan Glokta, once Adua’s most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.

For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye . . . before it kills her.

The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.

The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever."

5. The Winter Knights by Paul Stewart (Edge Chronicles / Quint Saga #2 / 2005). I'm reading and enjoying the first book in the Quint Saga. It's an entertaining YA Fantasy series... So far anyway. Great artwork by Chris Riddell as well.

"Quint Verginix has enrolled as a squire in the Knight’s Academy. After his training, he will be able to pilot stormchaser sky-ships into the heart of Great Storms, and retrieve the solidified lightning – stormphrax – to weigh down the floating rock on which Sanctaphrax is built. But as a freezing winter takes hold, and the city strains to break free of its tether, ancient feuds threaten to tear its people apart.

On his own, Quint can do nothing to help avert the impending doom. But with the help of a band of loyal friends he might just be able to avert disaster.

The Winter Knights is the second book of the Quint Saga – first trilogy in The Edge Chronicles, the internationally best-selling fantasy series, which has featured on the UK and the New York Times best-seller lists and sold more than 3 million copies. There are now 13 titles and four trilogies in the series, but each book is a stand-alone adventure, so you can read The Edge Chronicles in any order you choose."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Holly Roth

Holly Roth

Holly Roth lived from 1916 - 1964 and was born in Chicago and lived in New York and London. She also wrote under the pseudonyms of K.G. Ballard and P.J. Merrill. I've enjoyed two of her spy / mystery novels so far and am looking forward to trying more.

1. The Content Assignment (1955).

"The Content Assignment is the first book written by American author Holly Roth and the second book I've read and enjoyed by her. It was originally published in 2 parts in The Saturday Evening Post in 1953.

I really enjoyed this novel, an intriguing, entertaining, 'lost girl' thriller with spy intimations. The story follows English reporter John Terrant as he travels to America to find Ellen Content. Terrant had been working in postwar divided Berlin and along with a friend met Ellen, who says she works as a secretary at the US Embassy. Over the course of the next week or so, he meets with her a total of 4 times. In the last meeting, he gets involved with Ellen as she tries to rescue a Russian man and his wife. They find the man dead. Ellen orders John to save the wife and take her to Ellen's boss. John does this and then loses track of Ellen.

John has fallen deeply in love with Ellen during these short meetings and over the next years he continues to try and find her. He does discover that she has worked for the CIA and that she seems to have disappeared on a ship to New York. When John discovers a new article that seems to indicate Ellen is still alive, he heads to New York, against advice / orders from the American FBI and even Scotland Yard, to try and find Ellen. There you have the crux of this entertaining thriller, as John stumbles around New York city and state, trying to find clues to Ellen's existence.

The story moves along nicely. It's not perfect as there are moments that seem inconceivable, but to Roth's credit, everything is explained satisfactorily. The characters are well - crafted, John is likable and intense. The FBI and police aren't idiots and act reasonably and sympathetically. It's a nice introduction to Roth. She has a clear writing style, the story is logical and well-crafted and just plain enjoyable. I will explore Roth's works further as I do enjoy her style and story-telling. (4 stars)"

2. The Crimson in the Purple (1956).

"I'm not sure where I first heard of Holly Roth. I have a feeling the book The Crimson in the Purple was listed at the back of another Penguin crime book. At any rate, for the past few years I have looked for the book and finally found a copy. I'm very glad that I took a chance on it as I've enjoyed it very much. I will definitely find other books by Roth (Ed Note. In fact I have ordered another of her books, The Content Assignment.

Bill Farland, a Private Investigator in NY and also a wannabe playwright, is hired by Catherine Hadden because she feels someone is trying to kill her. Farland is initially hesitant to take the job because he doesn't really believe her and also feels he might not be good enough for the case. But when he discovers that she comes from a famous acting family, he decides to go to the Hadden's home for a dinner party, ostensibly as her date. The party is a somewhat fractious affair with Farland not getting along with famous actress, Terrata Hadden. At the follow-up dinner, Catherine is taken severely ill (food poisoning?), the family doctor is called. Farland stays the night to watch Catherine and there is a murder..... Thus starts this excellent mystery, with the rest taken up with the investigation by Police Captain Rhine.

The mystery is described in the synopsis as 'melodrama'. Melodrama - "a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events designed to appeal to the emotions." I guess that sort of describes this excellent mystery. It kind of reminded me of Dynasty mixed with Margaret Millar's story crafting. The characters are all interesting. The Hadden family is filled with issues and personalities. Farland is an interesting character, struggling with his desire to even be a PI, with feelings for Catherine, wanting to connect with the family leader Dominic to get his play brought to the stage. Captain Rhine is a tired, smart, matter-of-fact investigator. He explores each character (suspect) with wit and intellect, an excellent, likeable investigator.

The story moves along very nicely, is so well-written and laid out. There is tension, mysterious characters / intentions, hidden back stories, all that comes out as the story is presented. It's eminently readable and Roth presents wonderful pictures of the setting and the characters. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. I'm looking forward to the enjoying the next book. (4.5 stars)"

Sound interesting at all? You can find the complete list of Roth's work at this link. Have a great weekend.