The smokiness in the Valley has reduced somewhat the past couple of days. There is still a haze but today the breeze seems to be from the north so it's a bit more comfortable and cooler. We had a couple of days with drizzle as well, so that didn't hurt.
I finished my 3rd book of September yesterday. I'll provide my review of that book and also the synopsis of the next book in line. I'll also continue with my look at my favorite authors.
Just Finished
1. The Courts of the Morning by John Buchan. This is the final book referencing Richard Hannay, hero of The 39 Steps.
"The Courts of the Morning by John Buchan is technically a Richard Hannay adventure but, in fact, he plays only a minor part in this story. Basically he introduces the main character, his friend, Sandy Arbuthnot. The story starts in the Scottish highlands and then follows another friend, Archie Roylance and his wife Janet, as they visit a South American country, Olifa. In some ways they have been hunting Sandy who disappeared a year or so ago.
The majority of this story takes place in Olifa, an imaginary South American country. It's a difficult place to describe; basically a relatively wealthy country of two parts; Olifa the main province of the government and the wealthier class & Gran Seco, a province run by the Gobernador, with mines that fuel Olifa's economy. The Gobernador uses drugs to control the native people who work in the mines and also his Conquistadors and Body Guards. As I understood it, this drug can kill if they stop using it. It's not all that well explained though.
Sandy Arbuthnot and an American friend, Blenkiron, have been hiding out in Olifa and establishing a resistance organization. This involves kidnapping El Gobernador and starting a war between the Gran Seco and Olifa provinces. Even there, the aim is unclear (blame me if it is clear and I've misunderstood it) Archie and Janet get involved as does Blenkiron's niece, Barbara. The main part of the story is the struggle, the strategy, the guerrilla war, the interactions between El Gobernador and the resistance. They seem to hope that by him alone with the rebels that they can change his mind and let him see the importance of their battle for the country.
In its way, it's an interesting tale. It moves along at a slow pace but gradually as we get to the crisis, things begin to pick up and there is more and more action. I liked that even though the story is about Sandy Arbuthnot, he seems to play almost a secondary role, as the story at many times revolves around Janet and Barbara and their discussions with El Gobernador.
The more I focused on the story, the more I enjoyed it. I will say that I did find it easy to put down to read other books but it did grow on my and it's worth the effort to persevere with it. I enjoy Buchan's stories and this was a nice good-bye to Richard Hannay. (3.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Muriel Contreras, a high-priced hooker, is informed by PI Mike Haller that she'd inherited a fortune. Trouble is, someone doesn't want her to live to collect it. If he isn't able to murder Muriel, he'll kill anyone who tries to help her!."
My Ongoing Look At My Favorite Authors - John Dunning
John Dunning is an American crime writer. He was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1942. Besides writing novels, he also worked as a newspaper writer, worked at Denver's horse track and owned a book store specializing in second-hand and rare books. I discovered his books in early 2000, one of those mystery writers who attracted my attention during my exploration of ABC Books in Courtenay. He did write other novels, mysteries and fiction / non-fiction, but I focused on his six books series featuring ex-cop cum book store owner / detective, Cliff Janeway. It was an excellent series, especially because every story involved rare books. You can't go wrong with that, can you? So let's take a look at his books.
"A very enjoyable mystery. I've read a few of the series and on the whole enjoyed them all. Cliff Janeway is an ex-Denver police detective who quits the force and becomes a book dealer. His mysteries always involve the book trade and for someone who loves wandering around book stores and collecting somewhat, it adds a nice touch to the mysteries. Cliff is a loner and you do often find him wandering off on his own when you want to shout at him to bring along some help. But the mystery is well-written, nicely paced and always with a bit of tension. In this mystery, an old girl-friend of Cliff's current partner, Erin, is accused of murder and trying to find out if she did it and if not, who did. Laura, the accused, is accused of killing her husband (who happens to be an ex of Erin's) and he has book shelves full of signed books. Do they factor into the mystery? That's what you've got to find out. The whole series is well worth the read. (3 stars)"
2. Booked to Die (Janeway #1 / 1992).
"Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeway may not always play by the book, but he is an avid collector of rare and first editions. After a local bookscout is killed on his turf, Janeway would like nothing better than to rearrange the suspect's spine. But the suspect, local lowlife Jackie Newton, is a master at eluding the law, and Janeway's wrathful brand of off-duty justice costs him his badge.
Turning to his lifelong passion, Janeway opens a small bookshop -- all the while searching for evidence to put Newton away. But when prized volumes in a highly sought-after collection begin to appear, so do dead bodies. Now, Janeway's life is about to start a precarious new chapter as he attempts to find out who's dealing death along with vintage Chandlers and Twains." (4 stars)
"When Cliff Janeway investigates the provenance of a signed first edition of a memoir by nineteenth-century explorer Sir Richard Burton, he becomes embroiled in a mystery involving a lost library of rare Burton material." (4 stars)
"This is the fifth and last Cliff Janeway mystery, a series I've enjoyed immensely. Cliff Janeway is an ex-Denver cop who has become a book dealer in Denver who also hunts down antique books and is often hired to estimate costs of antique books. He also still becomes involved in mysteries, often with a book-theme. In this story, he travels to Idaho to help estimate the value of an estate's books and also to solve a mystery; some of the books have been disappearing and being replaced by cheaper editions. Throw in an old death in the family that might have been a murder and bring in the horse - racing world and you've got the makings of a great mystery. It's an excellent series and I highly recommend. (4 stars)"
5. The Bookman's Wake (Janeway #2 / 1995).
"Denver cop-turned-book dealer Cliff Janeway is lured by an enterprising fellow ex-policeman into going to Seattle to bring back a fugitive wanted for assault, burglary, and the possible theft of a priceless edition of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." The bail jumper turns out to be a vulnerable young woman calling herself Eleanor Rigby, who is also a gifted book finder. Janeway is intrigued by the woman -- and by the deadly history surrounding the rare volume. Hunted by people willing to kill for the antique tome, a terrified Eleanor escapes and disappears. To find her -- and save her -- Janeway must unravel the secrets of the book's past and its mysterious maker, for only then can he stop the hand of death from turning another page...." (4 stars)
All in all this was an enjoyable series. I did read one of his standalone mysteries, Two O'Clock Eastern Wartime and have to say I didn't enjoy it as much. One of those books, as I recall, that I just didn't seem to get. But I should try his other books. The complete listing of Dunning's books can be found at this link.
The weekend is almost upon us. Stay safe, read a good book.
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