A Friday before Hallowe'en Reading Update.

 

This post has nothing to do with Hallowe'en but it is the Friday before scary day so there you go. The last time I did a reading update was 16 Oct. Since then I've completed 3 more books. I'll update those plus the normal stuff; currently reading, new books, etc.

Just Finished

1. Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter by John Wyndham. One of the first Sci Fi authors I remember enjoying.

"I can't exactly remember when I read my first book by English author, John Wyndham] but I think it might have been in high school and I'm pretty sure it was The Day of the Triffids. As a much younger boy, I used to walk by the movie posters at our base cinema, on my way to school. One of them that I remember was the poster for The Day of the Triffids. I think it showed a man with his arm around a woman, surrounded by Triffids. My sister told me about the movie at breakfast.

So I digress, as usual, but Wyndham remains one of my favorite Sci Fi authors. The Day of the Triffids is such a great book and their have been some excellent and some not so excellent movie / TV adaptations of it. The Chrysalids (which should have been adapted to a TV mini-series, in my humble opinion), The Midwich Cuckoos (also Village of the Damned) and The Kraken Wakes are all excellent Sci Fi / Horror stories. Over the past few years, I've discovered others of his books, some written under the name of John Beynon (much earlier works) and a few other stories.

So with that preamble, what about Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter. Firstly, it's a collection of short stories. It was originally published in 1956 and it contains stories that, while not outright horror, are unsettling at times, humorous at times and all are entertaining reads. Wyndham has a dry, unprepossessing style, even when the subject matter is uncomfortable and dare I say, terrifying? I refer more to Day of the Triffids in this case. The short stories are uncomfortable in the same way that the short stories of Saki (H.H. Munro) are. They lead you down a path and leave you wondering if you should chuckle or maybe shiver a bit.

The collection has 11 stories and they are a nice mix. Let's look at a couple -

-  Jizzle - A monkey with amazing talents that makes its owner lots of money. But what happens when said monkey gets jealous of having to share its owner? 

- The Wheel - for some reason it reminded me of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Technology vs religion

- Compassion Circuit - a poorly wife, struggling with her health finally allows her husband to acquire a robot servant to help around the house. Surprising ending......

- Confidence Trick - a subway full of passengers is suddenly emptied. The remaining five discover they are on a train to Hell. Unbelief vs established norms

- A Present from Brunswick - a Pied Piper type story but with an interesting twist.

- More Spinned Against - this is from the story of Arachne in Greek mythology. Arachne was the best spinner in Greece and angered Athena who turned her into a spider. Arachne can switch back to human for one day a year and comes to an agreement with the lady of the house. The lady wants to go and get some pretty stones. Surprise when she returns to human form

and...

- Opposite Number - kind of a combination Dark Matter and Dr. Who with alternate dimensions...

I believe it takes a special skill for a writer to write short stories, to make your point quickly but still be able to provide a rich plot and then make your conclusion effective and interesting. John Wyndham has done that very successfully with this collection. Most enjoyable. (3.5 stars)"

2. Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Old Man's War #1 / 2005). I'd had this book on my shelf for a number of years. I'm glad I finally tried it as it was excellent and will hopefully get me going on reading the next books in the series.

"I've had Old Man's War by John Scalzi, the 1st book in his Old Man's War Sci Fi series, on my book shelf since 2017. And like many books that I've not got around to reading, I'm an idiot for waiting this long to finally get to it. As per my normal refrain, too many books, not enough time. At any rate, what a great story and intro to this series; a reminder of other books like it that I've enjoyed - Battle Cry by Leon Uris and Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. With a neat twist, of course.

The story follows John Perry, a man on Earth who has just 'celebrated' his 75th birthday. He visits his wife's grave and then joins the army. But not just any army, the Colonial Defense Force. The CDF protects Earth and its outer space colonies. It's source of troops are residents of Earth celebrating their 75th birthdays, hence the Old Man's War. Like Battle Cry, the story follows Perry and a gang of friends as they go through basic training and then follows them out as they do battle with alien races.

Of course, you would be correct in asking, but how do a bunch of septuagenarians compete with alien races with all of their technology and superior powers and physical abilities? Ah, good question. And that's the neat twist and I won't ruin it telling you how because it's really quite awesome. And there is another even neater twist when you meet the Ghost Brigades. Wow!

The story follows the Old folks' adventures, their interactions, their battles with the aforementioned aliens and it just draws you in and lets you soak up their stories and lives. Scalzi lets the action move along at just the correct pace. He gets you under the skins and into the minds and souls of these interesting folks. 

Besides being an entertaining outer space action adventure, it's just an excellent story about people and their lives and emotions and thoughts. Don't wait as long as I did to finally try it. Even if you're not a Sci Fi junkie, I think you'd enjoy it. (4.5 stars)"

3. The House at the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine McCarthy (2024). A new author for me.

"The House at the End of Lacelean Street by Catherine  McCarthy is an interesting 'horror' story. It's horror in the vein of The Haunting of Hill House, not really scary but a mental exercise in uncomfortableness. Yeah, that doesn't do it. This is the story..

Three people, Claudia, a middle-aged woman, Stacey, a young drug addict and Howard, an elderly gentleman, find themselves on a bus. It seems to make only one stop, at the corner of Lacelean Street; this being in the middle of the night. Claudia notes a mansion up Lacelean Street and heads to it. The other two eventually make their way there as well. (None of them have any recollection of how they got on the bus or really anything of their past)

Once inside, they notice name cards for each of them on a table in the hallway. They are informed that where their rooms are, when meals are and that they all need to show up at the library at 9:00 a.m. In their rooms, they are given clean clothes (these appear when they don't notice, their own clothes disappear).

So gradually, they all make it to the classroom. Claudia is the leader. She wants to know what is going on. She cajoles Howard to the classroom but the door is locked. It won't open until all three show up. She forces Howard to help her get Stacey downstairs the next day. Stacey is drug addled and they must help her.

Finally after a couple of days, they all make it to the library. There are jars of chalk for each. Almost uncontrollably, one after another, they write messages about one of the others that will start them on a pathway. (I'm hesitant to get into much more detail as it might ruin the story) Where will the pathway lead?

The story is told from the 3 individuals' perspectives. Each chapter focuses on one of them. They each have a troubled past, that might come out throughout their stay. As I say, it's not scary, but uncomfortable, troubling. The story is told beautifully, the three characters are all well presented, with all their scratchy under-surfaces. It's definitely interesting and flows very nicely from person to person. It has made me want to check out some of her other work, especially Mosaic. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Scourge between the Stars by Ness Brown (2023).

"Ness Brown's The Scourge Between Stars is a tense, claustrophobic sci-fi/horror blend set aboard a doomed generation ship harboring something terrible within its walls.

As acting captain of the starship Calypso, Jacklyn Albright is responsible for keeping the last of humanity alive as they limp back to Earth from their forebears’ failed colony on a distant planet.

Faced with constant threats of starvation and destruction in the treacherous minefield of interstellar space, Jacklyn's crew has reached their breaking point. As unrest begins to spread throughout the ship’s Wards, a new threat emerges, picking off crew members in grim, bloody fashion.

Jacklyn and her team must hunt down the ship’s unknown intruder if they have any hope of making it back to their solar system alive."

2. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (2014). I've enjoyed two previous graphic horror stories from Carroll. I've been looking forward to the collection.

"A fantastically dark and timeless graphic debut, for fans of Grimm Tales, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and the works of Neil Gaiman

'It came from the woods. Most strange things do.'

Five mysterious, spine-tingling stories follow journeys into (and out of?) the eerie abyss.

These chilling tales spring from the macabre imagination of acclaimed and award-winning comic creator Emily Carroll.

Come take a walk in the woods and see what awaits you there..."

New Books

1. Nothing Special, Vol 2 - Concerning Wings by Katie Cook (2024). I enjoyed the first book very much.

"Callie thinks that in the grand scheme of the worlds at large, she's nothing special. With the unexpected addition of friendship and adventure into her life, she's about to find out that she was very, very wrong.

Callie, Declan, Radish, and Lasser return for season two!"

2. The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu (2023).

"In this gorgeous graphic novel by Wendy Xu, co-creator of the award-winning Mooncakes, a young inventor falls for a lifelike AI and confronts questions of freedom and autonomy. Clementine Chang moves from Earth to Mars for a new start and is lucky enough to land her dream job with Dr. Marcella Lin, an Artificial Intelligence pioneer. On her first day of work, Clem meets Dr. Lin’s assistant, a humanoid AI named Kye. Clem is no stranger to robots—she built herself a cute moth-shaped companion named SENA. Still, there’s something about Kye that feels almost too human. When Clem and Kye begin to collaborate, their chemistry sets off sparks. The only downside? Dr. Lin is enraged by Kye’s growing independence and won’t allow him more freedom. Plus, their relationship throws into question everything Clem thought she knew about AI. After all, if Kye is sentient enough to have feelings, shouldn’t he be able to control his own actions? Where is the line between AI and human? As her past and Kye’s future weigh down on her, Clem becomes determined to help him break free—even if it means risking everything she came to Mars for."

3. Northern Nights by Michael Kelly (2024).

"Something stirs in the boundless dark of the Canadian north. Listen. Can you hear it?

Northern Nights is an anthology of strange stories, featuring the dark dreams and feverish imaginations of Canada's finest speculative authors. Steel yourself for a journey through these northern nights.

Featuring all new original stories from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Camilla Grudova, Premee Mohamed, David Demchuk, Senaa Ahmad, A.C. Wise, Naben Ruthnum, Simon Strantzas, Richard Gavin, Rich Larson, Hiron Ennes, Siobhan Carroll, Lynn Hutchinson Lee, Rory Say, David Nickle, Marc A. Godin, EC Dorgan, K.L. Schroeder, Nayani Jensen, and David Neil Lee."

4. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #1 / 2006). I read a graphic novel based on this series.

"Mercedes Thompson, aka Mercy, is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water..."

5. Empire by Clifford D. Simak (1951). I've been working my way through Simak's books.

"Four men were in the room -- Chambers himself; Craven, the scientist; Arnold Grant, head of Interplanetary's publicity department, and Harry Wilson! Wilson's voice came out of the screen, a frantic, almost terrified voice. "I've told you all I know. I'm not a scientist. I'm a mechanic. I've told you what they're doing. I can't tell you how they do it." Arnold Grant leaned forward in his chair. His face was twisted in fury. "There were plans, weren't there?" he demanded. "There were equations and formulas. Why didn't you bring us some of them?" "I tried," pleaded Wilson. Perspiration stood out on his forehead. The cigarette in his mouth was limp and dead. "One of them was always there. I never could get hold of any papers. I asked questions, but they were too busy to answer. And I couldn't ask too much, because then they would have suspected me." Half a continent away, the men they were speaking of -- the very men that Wilson had been hired to spy upon -- were watching everything that was said. They were not pleased."

6. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (2019). A lady at my local book store recommended this. The artwork looks beautiful.

"Enter the world of Charlie's four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons. The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse have been shared millions of times online - perhaps you've seen them? They've also been recreated by children in schools and hung on hospital walls. They sometimes even appear on lamp posts and on cafe and bookshop windows. Perhaps you saw the boy and mole on the Comic Relief T-shirt, Love Wins?

Here, you will find them together in this book of Charlie's most-loved drawings, adventuring into the Wild and exploring the thoughts and feelings that unite us all."

Female Authors Whose Work I've Enjoyed - Minette Walters

Minette Walters

Minette Walters has long been one of my favorite mystery writers. Unlike many of my others, she writes standalone mysteries. I can't say I haven't enjoyed one of them so far. They've all been excellent. Walters was born in Bishop Stortford, England in 1949. Since then she has written about 20 novels / novellas. Quite a few of her books have been turned into movies as well. So far I've enjoyed 9 of her novels. I've yet to explore her more recent works. I do have another 4 sitting on my bookshelf awaiting my attention. (Jo bought me a few for Xmas one year that I recall) Let's look at them to give you an idea of her work.

1. The Devil's Feather (2005).

"With private security firms supplying bodyguards in every theatre of war, who will notice the emergence of a sexual psychopath from the ranks of the mercenaries?

Reuters correspondent Connie Burns is no stranger to the world’s trouble spots, including the vicious civil unrest in Sierra Leone and the war in Iraq. But as she begins to suspect that a foreigner is using the chaos of war to act out sadistic fantasies against women, her efforts to bring him to justice leave her devastated.

Degraded and terrified, she goes into hiding in England and strikes up a friendship with Jess Derbyshire, a loner whose reclusive nature may well be masking secrets of her own. Connie draws from the other woman's strength and makes the hazardous decision to attempt a third unmasking of a serial killer . . .

Knowing he will come looking for her . . ."

2. The Chameleon's Shadow (2007).

"A compelling look into damaged minds, The Chameleon's Shadow is a psychological thriller from crime queen Minette Walters. When Lieutenant Charles Acland is flown home from Iraq with serious head injuries, he faces not only permanent disfigurement but also an apparent change to his previously outgoing personality. Crippled by migraines, and suspicious of his psychiatrist, he begins to display sporadic bouts of aggression, particularly against women, especially his ex-fiancée who seems unable to accept that the relationship is over. After his injuries prevent his return to the army, he cuts all ties with his former life and moves to London. Alone and unmonitored, he sinks into a private world of guilt and paranoid distrust . . . until a customer annoys him in a Bermondsey pub and he attracts the attention of local police investigating three murders which appear to have been motivated by extreme rage . . . Under suspicion, Acland is forced to confront the real issues behind his isolation. How much control does he have over the dark side of his personality Do his migraines contribute to his rages Has he always been the duplicitous chameleon that his ex-fiancée claims And why if he hates women does he look to a woman for help."

3. Shape of Snakes (2000).

"November 1978. Britain is on strike. The dead lie unburied, rubbish piles in the streets - and somewhere in West London a black woman dies in a rain-soaked gutter. Her passing would have gone unmourned but for the young woman who finds her and who believes - apparently against reason - that Annie was murdered. But whatever the truth about Annie - whether she was as mad as her neighbours claimed, whether she lived in squalor as the police said - something passed between her and Mrs. Ranelagh in the moment of death which binds this one woman to her cause for the next twenty years. But why is Mrs Ranelagh so convinced it was murder when by her own account Annie died without speaking. And why would any woman spend twenty painstaking years uncovering the truth - unless her reasons are personal . . ."

4. Fox Evil (2002).

"When elderly Alisa Lockyer-Fox is found dead in her garden, dressed in her nightclothes and with bloodstains on the ground around her, the finger of suspicion points at her wealthy husband, Colonel James Lockyer-Fox. A coroner's investigation deems it death by natural causes, but the gossip surrounding James refuses to go away." With James friendless and alone, his reclusive behavior begins to alarm his attorney, whose concern deepens when he discovers that his client has become the victim of a relentless campaign accusing him of far worse than the murder of his wife. James is unwilling to fight the allegations, choosing instead to devote his energies to a desperate search for the illegitimate granddaughter who may prove his savior as he battles for his name - and his life."

Pique your interest at all? The complete listing of Walters' books can be found at this link.

2025 Anyone?

The result of 2024 US elections?

I know it's kind of early but as I've been continuing with my 2024 reading, I've also been madly vetting my bookshelves and making lists for 2025. Being a relatively positive person, I'm assuming the world will survive the 2024 US Presidential elections (Go Harris / Walz!). So being said positive person, I've begun looking at possible 2025 Reading challenges. Over the next months as we begin to wind down 2024, I'll try to be more specific with my challenges. I'm kind of at a loss, but I did come up with one possibility, that being a Dusty Bookshelf Challenge. 

One of my 12 + 4 (I think I might have a couple or three this year) will be to read the 16 books that have resided the longest on our bookshelves. Here they are.

2025 12 + 4 Reading Challenge - Dusty Books

1. Gideon's Power by J.J. Marric (Gideon #15 / 1969) (added to my bookshelf Oct 14, 2010). I do enjoy J.J. Marric's mysteries and I've been trying to get into so many of them. Commander Gideon is a favorite.

"It's lights out for London's power stations — and Scotland Yard commander George Gideon is about to blow a fuse! "Superb storytelling!" — The New York Times Book Review. Their majestic smoke stacks have withstood the bombs of the Nazis; their whirring turbines are the city's pulse. The power stations symbolize the power of London. So then, it is not surprising that a single power outage could bring entire districts to their knees. But when they become frequent, almost regular happenings, Scotland Yard Commander George Gideon gives his men the nod to go have a look-see. And when reports come in about the presence of a mysterious green bicycle outside of each of the failing plants, Gideon puts himself on the case. If that weren't enough, Gideon also has a kidnapping caper that looks to become a murder case. Then there's a shocking development in a two-year-old murder, a clue that just might prove the condemned man innocent. As London's lights flicker the hooligans have a field day; it's up to Gideon to pull the plug on crime!"

2. Gideon's March by J.J. Marric (Gideon #8 / 1962) (added to my bookshelf Oct 14, 2010).

"Gideon knew he was in for a difficult time. There was to be a summit conference in London and the protection of the statesmen from France, Germany and the United States was a prime importance. But Gideon also had to cope with murder - first one, then another, both of them seemingly connected in some strange way ..."

3. Gideon's Press by J.J. Marric (Gideon #19 / 1973) (added to my shelf Oct 10, 2010).

"Commander George Gideon of Scotland yard keeps the peace in London when strikes are imminent , of the Press and at the docks and extreme right-wingers are gathering to break up the dockgate meetings."

4. The Chinese Alchemist by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch #11 / 2007) (added to my shelf Oct 15, 2010).

"Antiques dealer Lara McClintoch is targeted by ruthless criminals while tying to recover an eighth-century Tang Dynasty silver box-with an alchemical formula for the elixir of immortality etched on the inside of the lid. The rare item holds the key not only to the mysterious death of a museum curator, but to Lara's own survival."

5. Glass Houses by Jane Haddam (Gregor Demarkian #22 / 2007) (added Oct 15, 2010).

"For over a year, Philadelphia has been plagued by a serial killer dubbed the Plate Glass Killer by the media. But finally, the police think they've caught a break - a man has been arrested at the site of the most recent murder, covered in the victim's blood. The man taken into custody is Henry Tyder, the scion of one of the most socially prominent families on Philadelphia's Main Line, a family that possesses the largest tracts of real estate in the city. He's also a hopeless alcoholic, frequently homeless and often estranged from his family.

Although Tyder has apparently confessed to the crime, his attorney believes him to be too disordered to be capable of actually committing the crimes and asks Gregor Demarkian, retired head of the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit, to look into the case. Gregor, however, has other things on his mind - after having been away for nearly a year without a word to him, his live-in girlfriend, Bennis Hannaford, has returned to Cavanaugh Street. And everyone seems to have seen her but Gregor. While he waits for Bennis to finally appear, Gregor finds himself enmeshed in complex case of the Plate Glass Killer. Specifically, what would have drive Tyder to confess to crimes he was seemingly incapable of committing and, more importantly, if Tyder isn't the killer, then who really is behind the murders of the Plate Glass Killer."

6. Skeleton Key by Jane Haddam (Gregor Demarkian #16 / 2000) (added Oct 15, 2010).

"When writer and ex-deb Bennis Hannaford discovers the body of super-heiress Kayla Anson in the family garage, her visit to Litchfield County, Connecticut, is reluctantly extended. Bennis's hostess, Margaret Anson, presents an icy version of the grieving mother, cut out her late husband's will--until now. And when Gregor Demarkian, ex-FBI man and Bennis's lover, arrives from Philadelphia to consult with local police, a media blitz storms in as more suspects crawl out of the woods.

Kayla may have been too blindingly rich for her wild, private school chum; her older, socially ambitious entrepreneur boyfriend; and a divorced, downsized bookkeeper selling her furniture to survive. As Gregor maps out distances, location, and motives, Halloween descends on the dark, silent hills. From a skeleton sprawled on the cemetery caretakers' porch to more deadly mischief and mayhem, the countryside is brimming with secrets. And a killer is about to strike again..."

7. Deadly Beloved by Jane Haddam (Gregor Demarkian #15 / 1997) (shelved since Oct 15, 2010).

"Down the aisle--to death

Armies on the eve of invasion could learn a thing or two about preparation from the denizens of Cavanaugh Street, who never do anything halfway. This time it's a wedding that's taking over the collective consciousness of the street...and bringing up painful memories for Gregor Demarkian. So when he's consulted on a murder in exclusive Fox Run Hill, the ex-FBI special agent is grateful for the diversion.

Why did country-club matron Patsy MacLaren Willis coldly shoot her husband in his sleep? Why did she remove every trace of her existence from the home they'd shared, pipe bomb her own car--and then disappear? The police think it's another marriage gone bad, but Demarkian thinks there's more to the case. And it soon looks like he's a second pipe bomb explodes, with devastating results, and Gregor knows that he must find a killer wedded to an explosive secret--before more victims take that final walk down the aisle."

8. The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin (Rebus #16 / 2006) (shelved since Nov 12, 2010). Finally winding down this series. Jo bought me the complete series as a present back then.

"A murder has been committed - but as the victim was a rapist, recently released from prison, no one is too concerned about the crime. That is, until Detective Inspector John Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke uncover evidence that a serial killer is on the loose ...

When Rebus also starts looking into the apparent suicide of an MP, he is abruptly warned off the case, not least because the G8 leaders have gathered in Scotland, and Rebus's bosses want him well out of the way. But Rebus has never been one to stick to the rules, and when Siobhan has a very personal reason for hunting down a riot cop, it looks as though both Rebus and Clarke may be up against their own side ..."

9. Exit Music by Ian Rankin (Rebus #17 / 2007) (shelved since Nov 12, 2010). Rebus does make appearances in Rankin's Malcolm Fox follow-on series.

"It's late autumn in Edinburgh and late autumn in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he tries to tie up some loose ends before retirement, a murder case intrudes. A dissident Russian poet has been found dead in what looks like a mugging gone wrong. By apparent coincidence, a high-level delegation of Russian businessmen is in town - and everyone is determined that the case should be closed quickly and clinically. But the further they dig, the more Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke become convinced that they are dealing with something more than a random attack - especially after a particularly nasty second killing. Meanwhile, a brutal and premeditated assault on a local gangster sees Rebus in the frame. Has the Inspector taken a step too far in tying up those loose ends? Only a few days shy of the end to his long, inglorious career, will Rebus even make it that far? "

10. Wycliffe and the Winsor Blue by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe # 14 / 1987) (shelved since Nov 12, 2010).

"When Edwin Garland died of a heart attack, no one outside the expectant circle of his relatives was concerned. But when, on the evening of his funeral, his son was shot dead, the situation changed dramatically and Superintendent Wycliffe was called in to investigate the seemingly motiveless murder. The disappearance of another relative and a further death occur before Wycliffe manages to unravel a story that had begun several years before, with the death of a famous Cornish artist. Only then is he able to identify the killer."

11. Photo Finish by Ngaio Marsh (Chief Inspector Alleyn #31  / 1980) (shelved since Nov 12, 2010).

"Murder and mayhem strike when a small group of people are confined to an island in the middle of a New Zealand lake in one of Ngaio Marsh’s last – and best – novels.

The luxury mansion on New Zealand's Lake Waihoe is the ideal place for a world-famous soprano to rest after her triumphant tour. Among the other guests are Chief Superintendent Alleyn and his wife - but theirs is not a social visit. When tragedy strikes, and isolated by one of the lake's sudden storms, Alleyn faces one of his trickiest cases…"

12. Maigret and the Wine Merchant by Georges Simenon (Inspector Maigret #71 / 1970) (shelved Nov 12, 2010).

"The richest wine merchant in Paris is found dead—killed by a bullet in front of an elegant house where discreet clients are in the habit of renting rooms for discreet purposes. Everything seems to point to a crime sparked by jealousy.

But Maigret is surprised to find a curious absence of shock or grief in the victim's family and colleagues, and further investigation into the life and habits of the murdered man reveals some singularly unlovable traits.

Simenon has created another superb and subtle exposition of one of Maigret's chief preoccupations: the idea of guilt."

13. Wycliffe and the Redhead by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #21 / 1997) (shelved Nov 13, 2010).

"The discovery of a body in a quarry creates a baffling case for Detective Superintendent Wycliffe

Simon Meagor was a lonely middle-aged man. With a broken marriage behind him, his life was centered on his antiquarian bookshop. In his past was the memory of a murder trial where his evidence had resulted in the conviction of a man who had subsequently killed himself. Now, to his horror, the daughter of that man was applying for a job in his shop and, almost mesmerized by her, Simon found he was agreeing to her employment. Cleverly, over a period of time, Morwenna manipulated herself into his work, his life, and finally into his flat above the shop. And then she disappeared.

When her body was discovered in a flooded quarry, at first suicide was considered. Morwenna was suffering from a fatal disease. But everything pointed to murder and, inevitably, suspicion fell on Simon Meagor.
Wycliffe became increasingly disturbed by a case which grew more and more complicated as he explored many dark and murky secrets from the past."

14. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs (Temperance Brennan #12 / 2009) (shelved Jan 08, 2011).

"There are 206 bones in the human body. Forensic anthropologists know them intimately, can use them to reconstruct every kind of violent end. When Tempe finds herself regaining consciousness in some kind of very small, very dark, very cold enclosed space—bound, hands to feet—Tempe begins slowly to reconstruct...

Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had accompanied the recently discovered remains of a missing heiress from Montreal to the Chicago morgue. Suddenly, Tempe was accused of mishandling the autopsy—and the case. Back in Montreal, the corpse of a second elderly woman was found in the woods, and then a third. Seamlessly weaving between Tempe’s present-tense terror as she’s held captive and her memory of the cases of these murdered women, Reichs reveals the incredible devastation that would occur if a forensic colleague sabotaged work in the lab. The chemistry between Tempe and Ryan intensifies as this complex, riveting tale unfolds, proving once again, that Reichs is the dominant talent in forensic mystery writing."

15. Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon (Inspector Brunetti #16 / 2007) (shelved Jul 16, 2011).

"Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti series has made Venice a city that's beautiful and sophisticated, but also secretive and corrupt, one of mystery fans most beloved locales. In this brilliant new book, Brunetti is summoned to the hospital bed of a respected pediatrician, where he is confronted with more questions than answers. Three men had burst into the doctor's apartment, attacked him, and kidnapped his eighteen-month-old son. What could have motivated an assault so violent that it has left the doctor mute? And could this crime be related to the moneymaking scam run by pharmacists that Brunetti's colleague has recently uncovered? As Brunetti delves deeper into the case, a story of infertility, desperation, and illegal dealings begins to unfold."

16. Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie (1985) (shelved since Jul 23, 2011).

"Jane Marple is from the village of St Mary Mead and applies her skills of observation and deduction to a wide variety of mysteries. Several of the supporting characters appear in many of these stories, including her nephew Raymond West, Dolly and Arthur Bantry of Gossington Hall, and Sir Henry Clithering formerly of Scotland Yard.

Miss Marple made her first appearance in a book in 1930, and her twelfth and final novel was published shortly after Agatha Christie's death almost 50 years later. In the intervening years Miss Marple also featured in 20 short stories, published in a number of different collections. But never before have they been available together.

In this complete volume, Miss Marple uses her unique insight to deduce the truth about a series of unsolved crimes - cases of a girl framed for theft, some disappearing bloodstains, the cryptic last message of a poisoned man, a woman killed within days of writing her will, a spiritualist who predicts death, a mortally wounded stranger in a church, a Christmas tragedy...

In all 20 ingenious crimes, every one guaranteed to keep you guessing until the turn of the final page."

As you can see I was going through a mystery phase back then. To be fair, mysteries have become my favorite genre. I hope you get some reading ideas from the selection. 

Another October Reading Update

It's been a busyish Wednesday. Went out to my local barber and got a haircut and beard trim. Did a bit of shopping. Now I'm relaxing with Jo and the dog so thought it might be nice to write another reading / book update. Are you ready for it? 

Recently Completed

(I've completed 3 books since my last update. All entertaining.)

1. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #5) (1974) This is the 11th book in 2024 Le Guin focus challenge.

"(Ed. Note. I apologize in advance for any spelling mistakes in this review, especially when it comes to names and other alien technologies, etc.)

The Dispossessed is the 5th book in Ursula K. Le Guin Hainish Cycle. Having said that, there are things mentioned, like the ansible (an instantaneous communication device) that is already in use in various other Hainish books. I'm not sure it matters the order in which you read the books. I chose to read them in the order they were written. 'Nuff said on that.

We visit the planets Anarres and Urras in this book, they are sister planets. Two hundred years before a group of revolutionaries, the Odonians (named after their philosophical leader) left Urras and settled on barren Anarres. They live a very anarchic life, no government to speak of, no individual property, very few possessions. They go where they are needed, depending on their skills. As I said, it's a very barren, dry planet. No animals except fish, difficult to grow any crops and when drought occurs (as it does during this story), everybody eats less, drinks less, works harder.

Shevek is a physicist and has developed a theory of Simultaneity. His theory may revolutionize interstellar civilization by making communication between planets instantaneous. The other scientists on Anarres don't want this. They don't want strangers coming to their planet. They have basic radio communication with Urras and some forms of trade, but no Urraseans?? are permitted out of their space center.

The story starts with Shevek being invited to Urras to work on and present his new theory to their scientists. And his time in Urras, what he discovers, what he ultimately decides to do, make up the basis of the story. As well, interspersed with this story, we have the story of Shevek's life on Anarres, his work, his love and marriage to Takver, their children, and the events leading up to his decision to go to Urras.

It's a slow-paced story, thoughtful and becomes more and more interesting as you get into the story. Shevek is a complex character trying to balance his life and values gained on Anarres with those of the people he meets and deals with on Urras. The descriptions of the planets and the lives of the people on both are described fully and richly. The people, especially Shevek's friends and family, are all well-crafted and interesting. 

The book was written in 1974 and for all that it presents the future and alien worlds, there are parts that ring true even today. For example there is this conversation between Shevek and the Terran ambassador to Urras, Keng. I'll just highlight portions of Keng's conversation -

"My world,  my Earth, is a ruin. A planet spoiled by human species. we multiplied and gobbled and fought until there was nothing left, and then we died. We controlled neither appetite nor violence; we did not adapt. We destroyed ourselves. But we destroyed the world first. There are no forests left on my Earth.... You Odonians chose a desert; we Terrans made a desert..."

The philosophies discussed in the book are relatable to philosophies expounded here. I took awhile to get into the book but the more I focused on it, like all great books, the more I found to enjoy and think about. Le Guin always makes you think. (4.0 stars)"

2. Devolution by Max Brooks (2020). I've enjoyed the books I've read by Brooks.

"A few years back, I read World War Z by Max Brooks and it kind of blew me away. A movie was made based on the book, but it was quite different, still good, but not the same. I saw Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre recently and the synopsis sounded interesting. The book is excellent.

The story is told in journal format, the journal of Kate Holland, newly moved to a small community, with her husband Dan, secluded in the foothills of Mount Rainier in Washington State. The novel is also interspersed with interviews by the author with Park Ranger, Josephine Shell, who is working on rescue efforts after Mount Rainier explodes. There are also excerpts from Kate's brother Frank McCray, whose cabin the Hollands have moved into.

The community is supposed to be a Utopia, just six families, hiding out in the wonderful wilderness, but getting supplies provided by drone, still linked to the outside world, but also not part of it. Idyllic! Kate keeps the journal at the behest of her psychologist, to record her thoughts, her pains, her ideas.

Shortly after they arrive, Mount Rainier erupts, basically cutting the community off from civilization. No more deliveries, as Seattle is now a war zone as people riot, break into stores, etc. (this is all a side note, as the story revolves around Greenloop. Gradually, Kate and the others begin to realize they are not alone. They here things rustling in the woods, feel themselves being watched. One night the alarms go off, the outside lights come on and Kate sees something big rooting in their compost bin. (A point here, there is now little food available for wild life, and it has moved on to different areas)

Kate believes it might be a bear or something else. (Oh, not to mention the mountain lion that is chased away and then they hear a battle in the woods and later find its bones). As time goes on, the group, realizes that they are being stalked by a tribe of Bigfoots. One little lady, Mostar, who has experienced war / violence like the others haven't, tries to lead them in a defence of the community.

It's a fascinating story and I won't provide more details because you really should read to get the full impact. The format is much like World War Z, but mainly focused on the one area. The reactions of the various families / units to what is going on, is very skillfully described and the ever increasing terror is ramped up slowly and steadily. How the individuals react and adjust to the situation is so well described and how the people gain the courage to fight back is so expertly developed.

It's a fascinating story, ends with a thrill ride and leaves you wondering what might happen next. Great story, tense, nail biting and just down right good. (4.0 stars)"

3. Cosmic Engineers by Clifford D. Simak (1950). Simak has been hit - and - miss with me.

"My first exposure to American Sci Fi novelist, Clifford D. Simak was back in my university days when I took a Sci Fi novel course and one of the books we read was City by Simak. Over the years I've read it three or four times. It's such an excellent book if you're just exploring the Sci Fi genre. Since then I've read another 4 and I have to say they've been hit or miss. The Werewolf Principle was surprisingly good, whereas I've mixed feelings about the others; Time is the Simplest Thing, The Goblin Reservation and Cemetery World were just ok. Each had something to offer, but for those last three, they sort of missed the mark.

Now to look at Simak's first novel, Cosmic Engineers. The novel was originally published as a short novel in 1939 and then rereleased in a larger version (this one I read) in 1950, Simak's first novel. 

So, onto the story. Two reporters, Gary and Herb, are traveling through our solar system, sending articles on our planets back to Earth. They are on their way to Pluto when they discover a space ship basically floating in space. It's not like any that they've seen before (of course I mean those manufactured by Earth). Deciding to explore, they discover a young woman in suspended animation. When they revive her, they discover she is one Caroline Martin and has been suspended for 1,000s of years. (a long time anyway). Many centuries ago, there was a war between the people on Jupiter and the rest of the Solar System and Caroline had come up with a weapon that would help Earth defeat Jupiter. She refused to give her plans up (they were in her mind) and so was punished by being put in suspended animation and floated into space.

It turns out only her body was asleep. She had thousands of years to think and also began to communicate with another race at the edge of the universe, the titled Cosmic Engineers. (Got it so far?0

The trio head to Pluto, where Herb and Gary had been about to report on another guy, Ted (love the names, eh?) who has devised a new propulsion system that he wants to use to go to Alpha Centauri. Anyway, to try and make this a bit shorter than the actual novel, it turns out that the Cosmic Engineers need our help to prevent a catastrophe that will maybe destroy the whole universe. With Caroline's help, Ted's ship is updated and the group, along with Plutonian scientist , Kingsley, travel through some sort of space / time warp to get to the Engineers planet.

The gist is that another universe is about to collide with our universe which will have disastrous consequences to both.. DISASTROUS!! So there you go. The group must try to help the Engineers, mainly represented by 1824 (that's his name) and it will involve Caroline and Gary traveling to a 'possible' future to get the mathematics to achieve their aim. Caroline and Gary will be kidnapped by a psychotic 'mind'. The planet of the engineers will be attacked by their arch enemies the Hellhounds. So, lots going on.

Let's say it's a fun space adventure with lots of math and science involved. At the same time, it's pretty normal. Gary gives Caroline a scrap of paper from an envelope and a stub of a pencil to write down all the calculations that future mathematician gives them. Not some sort of computer. There were things that made me think of later TV shows.

The powerful mind that captures Caroline and Gary makes the battle two hellhounds to see which side he will release. There are a couple of episodes of the original Star Trek that relate; do you remember the bored spoiled alien that keeps them prisoners in his castle until his parents come along?

Also an episode of the Big Bang Theory where the boys are trying to analyze Back to the Future came to mind when I read this discussion. Make sense of it. It relates to the trip to the future

"I followed its world line, said the Engineer, ' and yet not its actual world line, but the world line that as to come. I traced it into the realm of probability. I followed it ahead in time, saw it as it is not yet, as it may never be.  I saw the Shadow of its probability." LOL

One final quote. No matter when a story is written, there are issues that I can relate to the current time. This relates to the fact that when universe #2 is destroyed, aliens from that universe will cross over to ours. Can you see where this is going?

"What bothers me,' declared Kingsley, 'are those people from the other universe. It's just like letting undesirable elements come in under our immigration schedule on Earth. You can't tell what sort of people they are. They might be life forms that are inimical to us."

Mind you, the ever positive, intelligent Caroline has the perfect response.

"Or,' suggested Caroline, "they might be possessors of great scientific accomplishments and a higher culture. They might add much to this universe." (There you go)

So, somewhat hit and miss but still an entertaining space adventure. Check out Simak. (3.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula K. Le Guin (1975).

"Wizardry, transforming its master into a cloud of fine mist...cloning, duplicating the ideal man ten times over...Utopia, in a city where almost everyone is perfectly happy...

Ursula Le Guin, author of The Earthsea Trilogy, has a special way of blending stirring adventure with fantasy that has made comparison with such masters as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien inevitable.

Now, in The Wind's Twelve Quarters, seventeen of her favorite stories reaffirm Ursula Le Guin as one of America's outstanding writers.

CONTENTS:

Foreword
Semley's Necklace
April in Paris
The Masters
Darkness Box
The Word of Unbinding
The Rule of Names
Winter's King
The Good Trip
Nine Lives
Things
A Trip to the Head
Vaster than Empires and More Slow
The Stars Below
The Field of Vision
Direction of the Road
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
The Day Before the Revolution"

2. Beyond the Black Enigma by Bart Somers (1965).

"Commander John Craig is a new kind of science-fiction hero: worldly, daring, incredibly ingenious. Beyond The Black Enigma presents him with one of his most devilish challenges: to pierce and destroy an insidiously growing menace to the future of Earth itself.

Even the most jaded science-fiction reader will thrill to Commander Craig's dangerous exploits as he risks his life in strange worlds never before invaded by men from earth!

The black Enigma could be anything from a mere vibration to the gaping maw of a hideous space beast. Whatever it was, special agent John Craig of the Alert Command had to destroy it before it devoured the universe!

Suave, handsome John Craig did not relish the assignment to conquer The Black Enigma. He would have preferred to continue romancing the beautiful Elva Marlowe—Or any other of his many Women.
But when Alert Command informed him that two space fleets had been consumed by the Enigma and that the menacing blob was swelling steadily, Craig Couldn't resist the challenge.

Armed with three incredible protective inventions, Craig set forth eagerly. But he soon found out that getting BEYOND THE BLACK ENIGMA was not going to be just another heroic stunt. If he failed in his mission, it could end his life and Planet Earth!"

3. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice (Moon #1 / 2018).

"A daring post-apocalyptic thriller from a powerful rising literary voice.

With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.

The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision."

New Books

1. Star Shapes by Ivy Grimes (2023).

"Kidnapped from downtown Birmingham, Alabama, and taken to the country, our protagonist is pretty irked. Rather than ask for a ransom, her captors make her feed animals and read dusty books.

She is unnerved by the growing realization that something weirder is afoot, and it all ties back to a book of strange constellations known simply as Star Shapes.

People look to the stars to read the future, but sometimes the stars conceal stories from the past."

2. East of West, Vol. 4 - Who Wants War? by Jonathan Rickman (2015).

"It's the fourth volume of the Eisner-nominated, best-selling East of West.

Who Wants War? sees Year Two of the Apocalypse kick into high gear.

Collecting: East of West 16-19, The World."

3. The Chill (also Elephant's Work) by E.C. Bentley (1950). I previously enjoyed Bentley's Trent mysteries.

"They held the key to unlimited power!

He was the terror of the underworld. When men spoke of "The Chill" they spoke in whispers. Yet there were men willing to defy him—willing to do anything— to obtain the secret he guarded, the secret of limitless wealth and power held by only one man in the world."

4. Brother Assassin (or Brother Berserker) by Fred Saberhagen (Berserker #2 / 1969).

"When the planet Sirgol is targeted for destruction by the Berserker war machines, who plan to travel through time to kill a pivotal scientist in history, Time Operative Derron Odegard becomes the world's only hope."

5. Squire by Nadia Shammas (2022).

"Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It's the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program.

It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.

Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire."

6. Send Superintendent West by John Creasey (West #15 / 1953)

"With vital Cold War talks at risk Roger West of Scotland Yard, its finest detective, must stay one step ahead and out-think the FBI if he is to save Ricky Shawn’s life. A frightened ten year old child, Ricky has been kidnapped as a mere pawn in a ruthless game being played by the men who held him. Drugs, crushed and broken bodies, and general mayhem all trail back to the fate of the boy. West must move fast if he is to save him, but what is the motive for the kidnapping? An enormous shock awaits West as he proceeds."

and....

7. The Scene of the Crime by John Creasey (West #29 / 1961).

"A man's ambition and love for his beautiful wife lead him to violence and murder. Superintendent Roger West of Scotland Yard handles the case."

So there you go, folks. See anything that tweaks your interest?