 |
| Thanks for the bath, Dad |
 |
| The Glam Look! |
Just Finished
"The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper is the 2nd book of her YA / Fantasy Dark is Rising series of 5 books. There was a gap of 8 years between the first two and the 2nd features a different cast of characters but the story follows the same theme of the battle between Good (the Old Ones) and Evil (the Dark Tide).
In this story, young Will Stanton is about to turn eleven and it's almost Christmas and Will is the 7th son of a 7th son and his life is about to change forever.Did this grab your interest? Well, Will is to discover he is a special person, the last of the 'Old Ones' to come into his own and he has a huge, scary, fascinating mission, because..... 'the Dark is Rising'.
Will must grow up quickly because he and his world will be put in desperate straits. Will must find the Signs to keep the Dark at bay, hence his title the Sign-Seeker. Throughout his journey he will be assisted by various Old Ones, especially fascinating Mr. Merriman and threatened by the Dark Rider. It's a great adventure that will travel through time to different ages, all the while his present time will be threatened by the Dark, in the form of a major snowstorm that blankets southern England.
We get to meet Will's excellent family and his neighbors and friends and also those members of the Old Ones who exist on so many planes. There are scary enemies, the Dark Rider, the Witch Girl, the ravens and also those who you won't know for sure, especially the Walker.
Cooper has created an imaginative, fascinating world. The story is somewhat ponderous at times but still so very interesting. I can see characteristics utilized by other fantasy authors; the Old Ones,, the Hunt, etc. Will is an excellent character and his friends and family make a great cast of supporters. The journey is dark and foreboding but there is also hope in the battle with the Dark forces. I've enjoyed both of the 1st two books so far and look forward to reading the others, which already reside on my bookshelves. I also look forward to trying her trilogy, The Boggart. (3.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"The Culture--a humanoid/machine symbiotic society--has thrown up many great Game Players. One of the best is Jernau Morat Gurgeh, Player of Games, master of every board, computer and strategy. Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the Empire of Azad, cruel & incredibly wealthy, to try their fabulous game, a game so complex, so like life itself, that the winner becomes emperor. Mocked, blackmailed, almost murdered, Gurgeh accepts the game and with it the challenge of his life, and very possibly his death."
My Favorite Authors - Victoria Thompson
Victoria Thompson is an American author of an interesting mystery series, the Gaslight books, set in turn of the century (20th century) New York, when Teddy Roosevelt is Chief of Police. The book features midwife Sarah Brandt who comes from a wealthy family but lives a working life. It also features Police Detective Frank Malloy who has a sometimes antagonist relationship with Sarah but who also ends up working with her on the cases featured in each book. It's a neat series. Thompson has written 23 books in this series. I've read the first six so far.
Victoria Thompson
"A new author for me, this is the first book in the Gaslight mystery series. I enjoyed this very much. I liked the setting, New York city when Teddy Roosevelt was trying to improve the police force. The story resolves around mid-wife, Sarah Brandt, a widow, and Police Sgt Frank Malloy. Malloy asks her help to go through the effects of a young woman murdered in a flat in a house where Sarah has gone to perform her mid-wife duties. Almost against his will, Frank finds himself getting more assistance from Sarah in investigating the case. With her background with the rich of New York, she can gain ready access to the people involved. The story was interesting, well-paced and well-written. I'm looking forward to starting the second book, Murder on St Mark's Place. (3 stars)"
"I enjoyed the first Gaslight series mystery earlier and must say I liked this one even more. I like both of the main characters, Sarah Brandt, the midwife who also gets involved solving mysteries, and Police detective, Frank Malloy. They make a very nice team and the mysteries they work on are well-crafted and well-paced. I like reading about the time frame the stories are set in, turn-of-the- century New York City. I like how both characters personal stories are developing and I like their relationship, which is developing into a very nice friendship. I also like that Sarah's neighbour, Mrs. Ellsworth is taking shape and becoming more three-dimensional, not just a busy-body neighbour. Victoria Thompson has moved the series to a new level with this second story and I hope the others continue to develop her characters and her writing style. Excellent and most enjoyable. And an interesting, tensely crafted mystery to boot.. :0) (4 stars)"
"I'm finding this a very entertaining series. I like the developing relationship between mid-wife Sarah Brandt and Inspector Frank Malloy. Sarah is a spunky, likable personality and Malloy finds himself growing more attached to her and comfortable with her even as he tries to keep her out of his investigations. I enjoyed this mystery, the murder of a healer which at first appears to be a suicide. Many suspects; his partner, his wife and/ or her lover, or his wife's father and others. Malloy and Brandt work together to sort the crimes out, as other suspects are murdered. The interesting thing is the access that Sarah, who comes from a rich family, can gain to these households and because of that, Malloy is also able to interrogate the wealthy. The situation in New York for the police is changing, they are becoming less corrupt, due in part to the leadership of Teddy Roosevelt. At any rate, an entertaining, well-written, nicely flowing mystery. I will keep reading this series. (4 stars)"
"Murder on Washington Square is the 4th book in the Gaslight mystery series by Victoria Thompson. The series stars New York midwife, Sarah Brandt who finds herself involved in various mysteries over the course of her travels and who partners with, albeit not always voluntarily, with Police Detective, Frank Malloy.
In this 4th book, the son of Sarah's neighbour, Mrs. Ellsworth, is arrested for the murder of a young woman. It seems she has been blackmailing him, after he got her pregnant, and her dead body is discovered in Washington Square. Prior to this event, Mr. Ellsworth has asked for Sarah's help in determining if the woman is in fact pregnant only to have their efforts rebuffed. The woman is found shortly thereafter, hence the suspicion that Mr. Ellsworth is guilty.
Sarah asks her friend Malloy to help in the investigation as she can't believe the young man is capable of murder. This starts an interesting chain of events as the investigation progresses. Malloy's relationship with Sarah becomes somewhat more friendly, Sarah's relationship with her parents is improved; the press hounds Mrs. Ellsworth and her son, and many interesting clues and facts are unearthed, including another attempted murder.
The story moves along very nicely and the characters as always are very enjoyable. The mystery, while not necessarily too complex, keeps you thinking and the whole story and setting, early 1900 NY City, adds to the interest. As well, there are clues dropped for future stories, that will make you want to continue reading. I've found that the stories and character development have improved a bit with each story. I'm looking forward to starting #5. (4 stars)"
5. Murder on Mulberry Bend (2003).
"I continue to enjoy Victoria Thompson Gaslight mystery series. Murder on Mulberry Bend is the fifth book in the series and finds Mrs. Sarah Brandt, mid-wife and sometimes crime solver, and her friend Detective Frank Malloy, looking into the murder of a girl living in a Mission on Mulberry Bend.
Sarah first hears of this Mission from a wealthy friend of her parents. His wife had volunteered to help at the Mission and had died due to an infection she seems to have acquired at the home. Sarah accompanies Richard Dennis to the house across from the NY Police building. Richard feels guilty because he feels he never displayed enough interest in his wife's charitable activities and wants to see what she was doing to understand her better and maybe to assuage some guilt. Sarah finds herself wanting to help there as well, upon visiting the place and finding something missing in her inner spirit. Should she be doing more?
Her involvement with the Mission becomes more personal. She donated clothes and a girl who was wearing some of the clothes is found dead the next day. Detective Malloy, recognizing Sarah's clothes, is terrified Sarah is the victim, and upon discovering his error, rushes to her home to find out more and to just be thankful she is still alive. Sarah's and Frank's feelings for each other continue to progress and infect their dealings.
So, without ruining more of the story, both Sarah and Frank investigate the murder of the young girl. Frank also continues his ongoing investigation into the earlier murder of Sarah's husband, Doctor Brandt. He feels an obligation to Sarah for her valuable help with his invalid son.
It's a nicely, well-paced story, an interesting investigation, as always and continued development of Sarah and Frank's relationship, including a new jealousy from Frank towards Richard. As always, Sarah's lovely, quirky neighbour, Mrs. Ellsworth, provides advice and a comforting presence. It's not the most complicated mystery; I had a good idea of the murderer, but it doesn't really matter. The story was still excellent and an enjoyable read. I'm enjoying this exploration into the lives of both main characters... Oh, there is one big surprise.. :0) (4 stars)"
6. Murder on Marble Row (2004).
"I've enjoyed the Gaslight Mysteries since the very first book. Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson is the sixth book in the series. In this latest mystery, mid-wife Sarah Brandt and Detective Sgt Frank Malloy investigate the murder of wealthy industrialist Gregory van Dyke. He is killed in an explosion at his office. Suspects abound; oldest son Creighton who has left home and taken up with anarchists, van Dyke's partner Mr Snowberger with whom there has been considerable enmity, youngest son Tad, the anarchists, etc. Frank is assigned the case by the Police Commissioner, Teddy Roosevelt, himself, which adds to the pressure on him.
It's an entertaining story. Both Sarah and Frank are wonderful characters, both with their own issues. Sarah has strong feelings for a young girl living in an 'orphanage' but her lifestyle as a mid-wife makes her concerned about adopting her. Frank's young deaf son, Brian, has shown steady improvement after surgery to repair his club-foot and Frank is now trying to sort out whether he should go to school. We don't see as much of Sarah's neighbor, Mrs Ellsworth but there is enough to still enjoy her character. But in this story, Sarah's mother, Mrs. Decker, plays a bigger role and her common sense attitude and straight forward ways are a breath of fresh air. She accompanies Sarah in her investigations, even travelling on the subway and wandering around the streets of the seedier areas of New York. It was nice to see her playing a bigger role.
All in all, it's an entertaining story, frantic at times and it progresses very nicely, investigation mixed with the personal lives of Sarah and Frank. The picture of New York in the early 1900's is well portrayed and the characters are all interesting. Has their been progress in Sarah's and Frank's relationship? Well, somewhat maybe, but you'd have to read it to come to your own conclusions. Still entertaining and enjoyable, much recommended. (4.0 stars)"
I have another 4 books in the series on my bookshelf. The complete list of Thompson's books can be found at this link.
Have a great, safe week. 😷
No comments:
Post a Comment