A Thursday Update

Our lovely boy, Clyde

Just a quick update from my last post. Clyde's appointment with the vet eye doctor went ok. He has cataracts and his vision is very bad. We've talked to our local vet. He's got one of those diabetes monitors on at the moment to see if his diabetes is under control and she did a blood test on him to check the soundness of his heart. A tentative date has been booked for eye surgery but Jo and I are still waiting for the results of the blood test. Poor little boy.

We've had a few rainy, cloudy days. It's a bit sunnier today and a bit cooler, which is kind of nice. I've got the Democratic convention on in the background and since Jo is off at work and Clyde is eating his lunch, I think I'll do a book update.

Just Finished

1. Maigret and the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon (Inspector Maigret #10).

"As I continue my August exploration of the Inspector Maigret mysteries, Maigret at the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon has been one of the more interesting ones. The reason I'm saying this is that the irrepressible Maigret doesn't really show up until at least half way through the story. As well, this story takes place in Liege Belgium.

The story follows two young men, Jean Chabot, a sixteen year old and his older friend, Rene Delfosse, (maybe 17 year old), the son of a rich industrialist, as they hang out at a night club, the Gai-Moulin. Jean Chabot works for a law firm, sealing envelopes, handling the petty cash, etc. His family is more middle class. They are both in thrall of the club's hostess, Adele, a sexy older woman. As the story begins, Adele leaves their company to attend to a new guest, a dark stranger who seems to be throwing around money. Another man also comes in arrives as well, a large Frenchman who sits by himself in the corner.

The club closes and the two boys hide in the wine cellar. Their plan (or rather, Rene's plan) is to wait until it's closed and then to rob the till. Rene runs up debts and regularly takes money from his father and his uncle. Jean has spent some of his boss's petty cash money and needs to return it. Once everyone leaves, they return to the main floor but instead of finding money, they see, in the dark, the body of the stranger. They leave in a panic.

The Liege police begin an investigation and Rene and Jean find themselves being followed by the large man and later, by 0ne of the local cops. It's a fascinating story and becomes even more interesting when Maigret shows up. I won't go into the story anymore because it's such a neat twist and becomes an even more interesting story. Interesting to see the Liege police at work. Interesting to see how the main characters, the two boys and Adele, react to the murder (there are even twists there). The Maigret series is always interesting, nice, neat, tense short mysteries with excellent plots and characters. (4.0 stars)"

2. The New Girl by Cassandra Calin (2024).

"The New Girl by Cassandra Calin is a YA graphic novel about a young Romanian girl, Lia, who moves to Canada with her family. The story is about her adjustment to a new life, trying to learn a new language (French, as the move to Montreal Quebec) and her attempts to make new friends and to adjust to what is happening to her body.

Lia isn't happy about leaving her friends and grandparents and other family members to move to Canada with her younger brother and her mother and father. Compounding this is that she has basic English skills and no learning in French. Let's say that Lia isn't happy. Starting school, she is placed in a class of other recent immigrants. Quebec's language laws (if I understand them correctly) are such that if you immigrate to Quebec and your primary language isn't English then you have to learn French. This isn't made an issue in the story. It's just part of the premise.

For the first part, Lia doesn't really try to adjust to her new life. She meets a fellow Romanian student, Bogdan, but he does want to learn and to integrate into his new life. Gradually though, Lia begins to make friends and to take part in more school activities. Because she likes to draw, she joins the school magazine. More friends.

The other issued discussed in this graphic is Lia's dealing with her first period and the pain it causes her. Being a man, I obviously can't relate other than to remember my daughters' issues with their periods and, of course, my wife's. So I can't say that it's dealt with very well, but I think it's presented knowledgeably and sympathetically and that the book might be a good primer for parents wanting to discuss with their daughters. 

All in all, it's a beautifully drawn and colored story. The characters are all sympathetic and well-developed. The story is an easy read and flows nicely. I have a feeling that there may ultimately be a follow-on novel as there were some matters that were left unresolved. But even if Cassandra moves on to other stories, this was a most enjoyable read. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

Well, how do you like that. I haven't started anything else. I'm hoping to read one more Inspector Maigret book before the end of August. I hope #11 arrives before the weekend or maybe Monday. Otherwise I'll pull one of the others off my shelf.

New Books

1. Linghun by Ai Jiang (2023).

"Follow Wenqi, Liam, and Mrs. in this modern gothic ghost story by Chinese-Canadian writer and immigrant, Ai Jiang. LINGHUN is set in the mysterious town of HOME, a place where the dead live again as spirits, conjured by the grief-sick population that refuses to let go."

2. Substrate Phantoms by Jessica Reisman (2017).

"The space station Termagenti—hub of commerce, culture, and civilization—may be haunted. Dangerous power surges, inexplicable energy manifestations, and strange accidents plague the station. Even after generations of exploring deep space, humanity has yet to encounter another race, and yet, some believe that what is troubling the station may be an alien life form.

Jhinsei and his operations team crawl throughout the station, one of many close-knit working groups that keep Termagenti operational. After an unexplained and deadly mishap takes his team from him, Jhinsei finds himself—for lack of a better word—haunted by his dead teammates. In fact, they may not be alone in taking up residence in his brain. He may have picked up a ghost—an alien intelligence that is using him to flee its dying ship. As Jhinsei struggles to understand what is happening to his sanity, inquisitive and dangerous members of the station’s managing oligarchy begin to take an increasingly focused interest in him.

Haunted by his past and the increasing urgent presence of another within his mind, Jhinsei flees the station for the nearby planet Ash, where he undertakes an exploration that will redefine friend, foe, self, and other. With Substrate Phantoms, Jessica Reisman offers an evocative and thought-provoking story of first contact, where who we are is questioned as much as who they might be."

3. Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown (1973).

"Bawdy and moving, the ultimate word-of-mouth bestseller, Rubyfruit Jungle is about growing up a lesbian in America--and living happily ever after."

4. The Land of Mist by Arthur Conan Doyle (Professor Challenger #3 / 1926).

"The Land of Mist is a novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1926. Although this is a Professor Challenger story, it centers more on his daughter Enid and his old friend Edward Malone. Another friend from The Lost World, Lord John Roxton, is also involved in the novel's second half. Professor Summerlee, who has died of old age around this time, is referred to by the mediums (much to the anger of Professor Challenger)

Heavily influenced by Doyle's growing belief in Spiritualism after the death of his son, brother, and two nephews in World War I, the book focuses on Edward Malone's at first professional, and later personal interest in Spiritualism.

There is a suggestion in chapter two that the deaths of "ten million young men" in World War I was by punishment by the Central Intelligence for humanity's laughing at the alleged evidence for life after death."

5. Any Man's Death by Loren D. Estleman (Peter Macklin #3 / 1986).

"Peter Macklin, an assassin for organized crime, is assigned to prevent the killing of an outspoken TV evangelist by a rival gang, only to learn the rival killer is his teenage son."

Women Authors whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Nicola Upson

Nicola Upson

I first tried English author Nicola Upson because the main character in her historical mystery series was English mystery writer Josephine Tey. I have enjoyed Tey's Inspector Grant mysteries. Upson was born in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk and has thus far written 11 books in this series. She also wrote one standalone novel. I have a bit of catching up to do on the series. I've enjoyed 2 so far and have another two awaiting my attention. Let's look at the four.

1. An Expert in Murder (Josephine Tey #1 / 2008).

"An Expert in Murder is the first book in the Josephine Tey mystery series by Nicola Upson. I've previously read the 3rd book in the series and enjoyed it. This series is loosely based on real-life author Elizabeth MacKintosh, who published under various pseudonyms; e.g. Gordon Daviot and Josephine Tey. She wrote mysteries under Josephine Tey, a series featuring Scotland Yard inspector Grant. Nicola Upson uses these aspects of Tey's life to develop this interesting series.

Tey's play Richard of Bordeaux is going through a successful run in London. As it comes to an end, there are plans to send the play out on the road and also plans to turn it into a movie. This has caused friction between the theater owner, Bernard Aubrey, and his lead actor. Aubrey wants him to go on the road and the actor wants out of his contract so he can work on the movie (more money). Josephine is on her way from Scotland, returning to London for the final days of the play and to discuss her latest venture, a play based on Mary, Queen of Scots. On her train ride to London she meets a young lady, also heading to London who is a huge fan of the play. She will be attending with her uncle. Tragedy ensues at the train station, where the young lady is murdered.

This starts an investigation by Tey's friend, Scotland Yard inspector Archie Penrose and his capable Sgt Fallowfield. The story becomes a fascinating exploration of theater life, an interesting mystery and a cast of quirky characters; from the acting and local communities. The story also explores issues of PTSD from the trench warfare of WWI. There are secrets on all sides and the unraveling of these secrets makes for an excellent tale. Penrose is a skilled, competent, imaginative investigator the story is more about his investigation, than Tey's. However Tey plays an important sounding board to Archie; he was a close friend of Tey's fiancé who died during WWI. 

At times it may seem somewhat convoluted but things are tied together neatly and resolved nicely. Tey is a thoughtful, intelligent woman and her relationship with Penrose is slowly explained. They are surrounded with an excellent supporting cast, all of which makes for a rich, intelligent story. An excellent first story, will make you want to continue the series. (4 stars)"

2. Angel with Two Faces (Josephine Tey #2 / 2009).

"Real-life British mystery writer Josephine Tey returns as a fictional sleuth in Angel with Two Faces—the second atmospheric mystery in Nicola Upson’s wonderfully inventive series. In this riveting sequel to Expert in Murder, Tey, in league with intrepid policeman Detective Inspector Archie Penrose, is called upon to help unravel a dark and perplexing crime at a Cornwall country house and backstage at a local theater."

3. Fear in the Sunlight (Josephine Tey #4 / 2012).

"Summer, 1936. The writer, Josephine Tey, joins her friends in the holiday village of Portmeirion to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville, are there to sign a deal to film Josephine's novel, A Shilling for Candles, and Hitchcock has one or two tricks up his sleeve to keep the holiday party entertained - and expose their deepest fears.

But things get out of hand when one of Hollywood's leading actresses is brutally slashed to death in a cemetery near the village. The following day, as fear and suspicion take over in a setting where nothing - and no one - is quite what it seems, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose becomes increasingly unsatisfied with the way the investigation is ultimately resolved. Several years later, another horrific murder, again linked to a Hitchcock movie, drives Penrose back to the scene of the original crime to uncover the shocking truth."

4. London Rain (Josephine Tey #6 / 2015).

"London Rain by Nicola Upson is the sixth book in Upson's Josephine Tey mystery series. Neat that mystery author Josephine Tey is turned into a sleuth in this series. 

The story is set during the celebrations in London for the coronation of King George VI. Josephine is at the new BBC Headquarters building for the preparations for the broadcast of her play (written under the name Gordon Daviot) Queen of Scots. While there she is witness to friction between renowned BBC broadcaster, Anthony Beresford and his wife, Vivienne Beresford, due to Anthony's relationship with another woman.

One thing leads to another and Beresford is murdered after his part in broadcasting a portion of the coronation. In the book, there is no doubt about who has murdered Beresford, but I'll let you read and discover that part of the story for yourselves.

The story follows the investigation of the murder by Josephine's friend, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose. Thrown into the mix are problems involving Josephine's relationship with Marta and the conflict with Marta's old relationship; Archie and his girlfriend Bridget, and the Anthony's mistresses. Included in the mystery is the death of Vivienne's sister ten years previously.

It's an interesting premise, the mix of Josephine Tey's real life and the events of the coronation combined with the murder mystery. It moves along at a nice pace, the characters are interesting and the story is ultimately satisfying. I will have to find the other books in the series and discover more. (3.5 stars)"

There you go. I hope you find it interesting. The series is worth checking out. The complete listing of Upson's books can be found at this link.