My First 2024 Reading Update

Here it is Sunday of an FA Cup weekend. Brighton has moved on to the 4th round with a victory over Stoke City on Saturday. Jo and I went out to lunch at the Black Fin yesterday as well. It was excellent we ate too much. Jo also beat me 3 - 2 out of 5 games of Sequence. As she did at Benino's the other day as well. She's off to a great start in 2024.

I've completed one book so far in 2024. It was my only carry over from 2023. I'll provide my review of  it and also the synopses of the next book I started. I will try to limit myself to one book per challenge at a time. I'm making steady progress on all of my books so will hopefully be able to provide more reviews in the next few days. Today I'll also provide synopses of the new books that have arrived since Jan 1.

Just Finished

1. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1 / 1992).

"It's been a long haul but I finally completed Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel #1) by Connie Willis. There were times I wished that the story would move faster.. Get to the point! But there was a good deal of set up so that the 2nd half could take off like gangbusters and just grab hold of your attention.

The series is set in the future and is about Oxford University historians and their work traveling back in time to explore different times in history. This story is about Kivrin, a new member of the time traveling team who is set to go back to to 1325 to examine the build up to the Great Plague that hit later on. 

There are complications. Her professor, Dunworthy, doesn't think that they should travel back that far and he tries to persuade both Kivrin and Prof Gilchrist against it. To no avail. He has one of his techs, Badri, examine the settings and prep but at some point Badri comes down with a virus and is taken to hospital. When Kivrin arrives in medieval England, she also is sick and spends the first week(s) struggling to get better and to find out where her drop took place. She needs to get back to the present!

Meanwhile, in the present, Oxford has been hit with a deadly virus that distracts from efforts to bring Kivrin back. Dunworthy is beside himself as he tries to find a tech who can examine the initial preparations and help bring her back. But it's the Xmas holidays and now Oxford is on lockdown, the whole area quarantined until they can find out the source of the virus and develop a vaccine.

That's the premise and the story wanders between Kivrin in medieval England, living with a royal family in exile from Bath and trying to help the local priest, Father Roche, care for everyone there.. because of course the Black Death is coming to town.

Back in Oxford, present day, Dunworthy is frantic. With the help of a young visitor, Colin (who was visiting his great aunt Mary, he works to get Kivrin back. Now, I'm simplifying this story. There is so much going on in both times and locations; romance, fear, politics, etc etc. 

And there are some great characters. My personal favorite is young Colin who is a rascal, but innovative, filled with initiative, smart and a whirlwind. And how can you not love a boy who uses expressions like 'apocalyptic' and 'necrotic'. He's great. His aunt Mary, who tries to hold the hospital together as she works to solve the virus is wonderful, just the type of doctor you'd want to have. In the past there is Father Roche, who does everything to hold his community together and to help Kivrin as the Black Death gets really really serious. Oh and there is also William, one of Dunworthy's students, who has every nurse and young lady in the palm of his hands and is of great help when Dunworthy needs it most.

It's a slow build, sometimes frustratingly slow but ultimately, the story takes off and has you holding your breath. Some sadness, some happiness and just a great story. Now on to the next one. (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Murder and the First Lady by Elliot Roosevelt (Eleanor Roosevelt #1 / 1984). As you can see, a new series and author for me.

"A young woman who is in Mrs. Roosevelt's employ is suspected in the murder of her boyfriend. Mrs. Roosevelt is certain that the young woman (Pamela) is innocent and with the help of a few officials, sets out to prove it. This is not an easy task, since the murdered boyfriend is the son of a Congressman who doesn't take too kindly to Mrs. Roosevelt's involvement, especially since her investigations reveal a few not-so-nice details about the young man's personal life and hobbies. The plot involves a jewel theft and false identities. You'll get to meet a few seedy characters from the gambling world. Mrs. Roosevelt mingles with these people in an effort to get information, and it's rather amusing. Overall, this is a fun, easy to read book with a good plot. I wouldn't call it intriguing or suspenseful, since the guilty party/parties are made sort of obvious. But it's fun nonetheless."

New Books

(Mostly books I had on order from last year and are starting to arrive.)

1. Copy Kat by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado #4 / 1990). I've enjoyed this series very much. Kat Colorado is a PI, much in the same vein as Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone. After writing 8 novels in the series, she stopped. I've been reading out of sequence but will now finish from earliest to latest.

"She's a hard-boiled Sacramento P.I. with a soft  spot for the unlucky, the unloved, and one special  cop named Hank. Her name is Kat Colorado, and in  her business curiosity can be more than an  occupational hazard -- it can be  murder.  

It's hard to tell where the truth ends and the  lies begin when Kat is hired to look into the death  of a young woman in a historic California  gold-country resort town. The police have closed the books  on Deidre Durkin's murder; it was a tragic  robbery-homicide. But could a clever murderer have  created the illusion of a parking-lot theft gone bad?  Was Deidre's loving husband as perfect as he  seemed? The more Kat finds out about the victim, the  less she's convinced that Deidre was the woman she  appeared to be. But then Kat, in her undercover  role as a bartender, isn't the person she pretends  to be, either. And as Kat discovers, in this  little town, even life and death are an illusion."

2. Howard's End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home by Susan Hill (2009). I've enjoyed Hill's writing very much; The Woman in Black, her Simon Serrailler crime novels. This work of non-fiction sounded interesting. Reading about someone reading books. What could be better.

"This is a year of reading from home, by one of Britain's most distinguished authors. Early one autumn afternoon in pursuit of an elusive book on her shelves, Susan Hill encountered dozens of others that she had never read, or forgotten she owned, or wanted to read for a second time. The discovery inspired her to embark on a year-long voyage through her books, forsaking new purchases in order to get to know her own collection again. A book which is left on a shelf for a decade is a dead thing, but it is also a chrysalis, packed with the potential to burst into new life. Wandering through her house that day, Hill's eyes were opened to how much of that life was stored in her home, neglected for years. 'Howards End is on the Landing' charts the journey of one of the nation's most accomplished authors as she revisits the conversations, libraries and bookshelves of the past that have informed a lifetime of reading and writing."

3. Berserker!: An Autobiography by Adrian Edmondson (2023).

"Berserker [noun]: A Norse warrior frenzied in battle and held to be invulnerable; often off his tits on henbane and large quantities of alcohol; one who is out of control with anger or excitement.

Ade Edmondson smashed onto the comedy circuit in the 1980s, stormed The Comedy Store and, alongside Rik Mayall, brought anarchy to stage and screen in iconic shows such as The Young Ones and Bottom. How did a child brought up in a strict Methodist household—and who spent his formative years incarcerated in repressive boarding schools end up joining the revolution? Well, he is part Norse. Could it be his 'berserker' heritage?

With wisdom, nostalgia and uniquely observed humour, Ade traces his journey through life and comedy: from playing the Angel Gabriel in four school productions and adolescent dreams of becoming a rock god, to revolutionizing the alternative scene with the Comic Strip Club, creating his outrageously violent characters, playing with The Who and even kissing Joni Mitchell along the way.

Brimming with nostalgia and set to a soundtrack of pop hits which transport the reader through time, Berserker! is a memoir like no other."

4. Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman (2023). After Volume 4, I decided I'd had enough of high school romance but then Vol 5 came out and a note at the back of this one says there will be one more final volume. Now that I've started it, I should finish. Right?

"Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the fifth volume of the much-loved HEARTSTOPPER series.

Nick and Charlie are very much in love. They've finally said those three little words, and Charlie has almost persuaded his mum to let him sleep over at Nick's house ... But with Nick going off to university next year, is everything about to change?

By Alice Oseman, winner of the YA Book Prize, Heartstopper encompasses all the small moments of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

Contains discussions around mental health and eating disorders, and sexual references."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Taylor Stevens

Taylor Stevens

I started this particular thread back in March 2021, focusing on the books of women authors who I particularly enjoyed reading. Today I'll look at thriller author, Taylor Stevens. Stevens is an American author. She was born in 1973 in New York State. Her family was in a cult and you can see threads of that in her Vanessa Munroe thriller series. Vanessa is an 'investigator' who gathers data for companies / people and sometimes finds people. She has the physical and mental skills to do it successfully. She's very secretive and emotionally controlled and is a fascinating character. I've enjoyed the first two books in the series (There are 5 so far and one novella). I'll provide my reviews of the two I've completed thus far plus the synopsis of #3, which currently resides on my bookshelf. Taylor Stevens also has a thread where she discusses writing, her personal life and issues and other thoughts if you're interested. 

1. The Informationist (#1 /2011).

"The Informationist by Taylor Stevens is the first book in her thriller series featuring Vanessa Munroe. Vanessa is a combination Modesty Blaise and Lisbeth Salander, a strong, intelligent, independent woman. Vanessa is a contract for hire, she deals in information and is an expert at assimilating data. She is hired by companies to go to a country and provide them information necessary so they an determine if they should invest money and resources there.

Vanessa has a team back in the States who negotiate contracts for her, Kate, a powerful lawyer and Logan, her equipment guy. Vanessa who is sort of androgynous and often works under the name of Michael (I found this aspect especially interesting) has a dark past that she tries to keep under control. You will find out more about it as you progress in the story. (It's fascinating)

Returning from Turkey, she is asked to work for Richard Burbank, a Texas oil billionaire, who wants Vanessa to find his long lost daughter. Vanessa is hesitant as this is not her normal line of work. Emily Burbank, a young woman, disappeared along with two friends 4 years ago in Africa. Burbank had searched for her unsuccessfully and while he suspects she is dead, he wants Vanessa to look for her. Persuaded against her better instincts (Vanessa has a past in Africa that she would rather not resurrect), Vanessa goes to Africa (after side trips to gather more info) and is accompanied by Burbank's, let's say another contractor. Bradford had recommended Vanessa and although she prefers to work alone, she is forced to let him come along.

The story ultimately leads to Equatorial Guinea, between Gabon and Cameroon, a fascinating, sometimes terrifying place. There the story will ultimately lead to a dangerous, exciting climax. Vanessa will have to deal with past demons, her life will be constantly in danger and she will have to discover who she can trust. All the while trying to discover if Emily is alive and if so, where?

It's a unique, different type of thriller. Vanessa has many issues and has definite trust issues, but as you discover more about her, you will want to discover more. The story is excellent, with enough action and tension to satisfy any lover of thrillers. Is it far-fetched? Of course, but no more than any Jack Reacher story or any Lisbeth Salander story. That's the purpose of a thriller. Great first book an I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd. (4 stars)"

2. The Innocent (#2 / 2011).

"The Innocent is the 2nd book in the Vanessa 'Michael' Munroe thriller series by Taylor Stevens. The story starts off in Morocco where Munroe has been living with lover, Noah, trying to deal with her inner struggles; nightmares where she relives acts of violence (making her a danger to others). She tries to solve the issue by drugging herself before going to sleep.

Her business partner Miles Bradford and another friend, Logan, arrive with a proposition. Logan and friends need her help. Logan was raised in a cult, The Chosen. As a young man he left, along with others, but now they need to find a young girl, Hannah. Hannah is the daughter of Noah (although she believes her father to be another man) and Charity. Hannah was abducted by David from Charity and taken back to the Chosen. Logan and his friends have recently discovered that Hannah is at Haven hideouts located in Buenos Aires Argentina. They want to hire Munroe to go and get her back. With Miles and three of the ex-Chosen, Logan, Heidi and Gideon, heads to Buenos Aires to try and get Hannah back. This story is that effort; as Munroe battles her demons and at the same time tries to discover the whereabouts of the Haven hideaways and infiltrate to discover Hannah's location.

It's an exciting book and provides an excellent portrait of Munroe, her inner struggles, her expertise with weapons, and her information-gathering skills. Miles brings along other skills and is an interesting character, faithful and dedicated to Munroe, worried about her issues and mental stability, but providing a core strength to her. The story is stark and grim but as it progresses, there is reason to hope; both for the success of the mission and for Munroe's mental health. I have #3 The Doll sitting on my bookshelf awaiting my attention. (3.5 stars)"

3. The Doll (#3 / 2013)

"Haunted by a life of violence and as proficient with languages as she is with knives, Vanessa Michael Munroe, chameleon and hunter, has built her life on a reputation for getting things done—dangerous and often not-quite-legal things. Born to missionary parents in lawless Africa, taken under the tutelage of gunrunners, and tortured by one of the jungle’s most brutal men, Munroe was forced to do whatever it took to stay alive.

The ability to survive, fight, adapt, and blend has since taken her across the globe on behalf of corporations, heads of state, and the few private clients who can afford her unique brand of expertise, and these abilities have made her enemies.

 
On a busy Dallas street, Munroe is kidnapped by an unseen opponent and thrust into an underground world where women and girls are merchandise and a shadowy figure known as The Doll Maker controls her every move. While trusted friends race to unravel where she is and why she was taken, everything pivots on one simple choice: Munroe must use her unique set of skills to deliver a high-profile young woman into the same nightmare that she once endured, or condemn to torture and certain death the one person she loves above all else.

Driven by the violence that has made her what she is, cut off from help, and with attempts to escape predicted and prevented, Munroe will hunt for openings, for solutions, and a way to strike back at a man who holds all the cards. Because only one thing is certain: she cannot save everyone."

So there you go. Sound interesting? You can find Taylor Stevens complete list of book at this link. This is the link to her webpage. Have a great second week of 2024