So, about books. I finished an excellent historical mystery this morning, the first book in a 3 book (so far, I hope) series. Jo and I went to Courtenay yesterday so I visited the Laughing Oyster and also 2nd Page Books. Yes, I found a few. Then this morning I got a couple of books in the mail. So I'll provide my review of the finished book and he synopses of the next book in line and of the new books. I'll also continue with my look at Women Authors I've been enjoying.
Just Completed
"Jade Dragon Mountain is the first book in a historical mystery series by Elsa Hart. It features exiled librarian from Peking Li Du, who has been traveling China and ends up in Dayan, a province next to Tibet where his cousin is governor. The story is set in 1708, by the way. It doesn't really say why he was exiled from Peking except for a brief mention toward the end of the story and this fact doesn't really take away anything from the story at all.
While in Dayan, Li Du discovers that preparations are being made for a visit by the Emperor Kangxi, who is traveling in that region and will end his journey by commanding an eclipse of the sun. Li Du finds the city in upheaval as the governor, his consort, the Lady Chen and his staff prepare for a giant reception and spectacle to receive the Emperor appropriately. Visitors from without China have been permitted to attend the event and you have amongst them, an ambassador from the East India Company (bearing gifts and hoping to open China up for trade with them), Jesuit priests, actors, gymnasts, a traveling story teller, etc.
Li Du is received somewhat ungraciously by his cousin. In fact Li Du doesn't want to stay there but wants to continue his travels and needs appropriate clearance paperwork from the governor. However, while there, and attending a state function, one of the Jesuits, an elderly priest / astronomer, Brother Pieter, is found dead in his room. Li Du thinks he's been poisoned, but his cousin, Tulishen, doesn't want to hear it. He first says he died of natural causes, then blames Tibetan traders. He sends Li Du away, but after a time, Li Du decides he has to return and demands to be allowed to investigate, especially as, if murdered (poisoned), he reasons that the Emperor might be in danger. Li Du has 7 days to find the killer.
So that's the basic premise and the story is Li Du's investigation, with assistance of friend, the Muslim story teller, Hamza, another wonderful character. There are many suspects, from Tulishen himself, to Lady Chen, another Jesuit, the East India Company rep, and maybe others. It's a fascinating, exotic story. In many ways it reminded me positively of the Kamil Pasha mystery trilogy by Jenny White, set in Constantinople in the early 1900's. The time is so interesting, the country is fascinating and the lives, culture and people grab and hold your interest.
I really enjoyed Li Du as a character and investigator. I do want to learn more about him and his travels and reasons for exile. There is nice intrigue as Tulishen and his wife prepare for the visit. The Emperor is of one dynasty and there are people who survive from the older dynasties who may or may not harbor grudges and ill-will towards the Emperor. The East India Company is another source of intrigue, trying anything to make inroads into what is basically a closed society. And then you've got the power of the Jesuits who took over as the royal astronomers and guide the Emperor's actions with the annual calendar; friction with the Chinese astronomers and also the Dominicans, who resent the Jesuit influence and want their own inroads to China and the Emperor. It's quite a complex but well-written, smoothly flowing story with an interesting mystery and palace intrigue to tie it all together. I enjoyed it so very much, right from the get - go and have now ordered the 2nd book in the series; The White Mirror. (5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Within the FBI, there
exists a team of psychics whose powers cannot be denied. But these
agents are feared—by a cabal of conspirators with only one weapon: to
blind the psychics to the evils all around them.
Months ago Sarah
Gallagher woke from a coma with psychic abilities she couldn’t control.
They changed her life and cost her the man she loved. And now, someone
is playing games with Sarah’s mind.
It begins with Sarah’s home
being destroyed by fire—an act of arson that draws novelist Tucker
Mackenzie into Sarah’s confidence. But he has other reasons for pursuing
a woman who can see what others can’t. So does a mysterious enemy
intent on eliminating Sarah, and everyone she cares about. Because it’s
only a matter of time before her visions lead her and Tucker to a secret
many will kill to hide. Only then will they begin to discover the scope
of a terrifying conspiracy so deep and complex they can trust almost no
one."
New Books
"The Body: A Guide for Occupants is an often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up. Full of anecdotes."
"Best known as the
creator of super-sleuth Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle also wrote
thrilling tales of the supernatural and the corruption of technology.
His sharp wit and chillingly detailed writing are at their peak in this
diverse collection of adventures, ranging from the cunning escapades of a
wartime strategist extraordinaire in "Danger!" to the gripping story of
one explorer's fatal journey into the skies in "The Horror of the
Heights."
Every reader who accepts Conan Doyle's invitation to
"come through the magic door" discovers a world in which the senses are a
thin veneer over an unsettling psychological and spiritual realm, a
realm in which possibilities have no limits. This volume presents
fourteen forgotten masterpieces by one of last century's most popular
writers."
"Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves
A female cop with her first big case
A brutal murder
Welcome to…
The Thursday Murder Club
In
a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the
Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves
The Thursday Murder Club. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be
pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.
When
a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next
to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the
middle of their first live case. As the bodies begin to pile up, can our
unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer, before it’s too late?"
"The stakes have never been higher as it seems like either the end of the world or the end of dreamers approaches.
Do
the dreamers need the ley lines to save the world . . . or will their
actions end up dooming the world? As Ronan, Hennessy, and Bryde try to
make dreamers more powerful, the Moderators are closing in, sure that
this power will bring about disaster. In the remarkable second book of
The Dreamer Trilogy, Maggie Stiefvater pushes her characters to their
limits - and shows what happens to them and others when they start to
break."
"December 1941. Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Winston Churchill arrives in Washington, D.C., along with special agent Maggie Hope. Posing as his typist, she is accompanying the prime minister as he meets with President Roosevelt to negotiate the United States’ entry into World War II. When one of the First Lady’s aides is mysteriously murdered, Maggie is quickly drawn into Mrs. Roosevelt’s inner circle—as ER herself is implicated in the crime. Maggie knows she must keep the investigation quiet, so she employs her unparalleled skills at code breaking and espionage to figure out who would target Mrs. Roosevelt, and why. What Maggie uncovers is a shocking conspiracy that could jeopardize American support for the war and leave the fate of the world hanging dangerously in the balance."
"A novel of tremendous pace and excitement, set in, and above, the Middle East, and involving two pilots, their careers clouded by a secret past, who fly back to the right side of the sky on a strange and sinister course that winds from Greece to Libya and includes a rich Nawab, a beautiful girl, diamonds, smuggled arms - and sudden death."
"From the screenwriter for STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE BIG SLEEP, and RIO BRAVO... Walter Sherris successful, happy, good husband and father made just one mistake: he took a walk along a dark road one night. Without warning, a car raced towards him and screeched to a stop; out piled five young men intent on violence. To the accompaniment of wild brainless laughter, Walter Sherris was beaten to the ground. He awoke in a hospital nine days later. And from that moment his pleasant life became a nightmare, more horrible than those he had wrestled with in those nine days of unconsciousness. Walter Sherris wanted revenge: for the broken leg and the pain; for the doubts he now had about his pretty young wife; and for the countless and nameless others who had been mauled by the thrill seekers, the sadists, the compulsive slayers . . . the tigers loose in a tame suburban world. The police were evasive, almost disinterested. There were no witnesses. So Walter Sherris set out alone to trap the tiger. The Tiger Among Us was filmed as 13 West Street (starring Alan Ladd)."
Women Authors I've Been Enjoying - P.N. Elrod
Patricia Nead (P.N.) Elrod is an American author of urban fantasy. She has written a number of series, the one I've enjoyed so far is the Vampire Files, a vampire - centric noir mystery series set in Chicago in the 1920's. Elrod was born in 1958 and wrote 12 books in the series and also a couple of novellas. I've enjoyed 4 of the series thus far and have the first book in the series sitting on my book shelf. Let's look at that plus the last two books in the series I've enjoyed to give you a flavor of this unique series.
P.N. Elrod
"Death hasn't ended Jack Fleming's problems. His girlfriend Bobbi has caught the attention of a famous radio star, who promises to open doors for the lovely singer -- including the one to his bedroom. His current case -- retrieving incriminating letters from the ex-lover of a rich, foolish young socialite, looks simple until bullets start flying. Now Jack's mortal partner is in the hospital. Who's behind the gun? The ex-lover? The radio star's goons? An old enemy? Jack has to find out the truth -- before the lives of those he loves are put at risk... " (3 stars)
"Cold Streets is the 10th book in the Vampire Files series by P.N. Elrod and the 4th that I've read so far. The series focuses on vampire / night club owner / private detective Jack Fleming who lives in Chicago in the '30s. He works with partner, Charles Escott, helping him with cases and also runs a night club with girl friend, singer Bobbi.
Both Escott and Fleming are working on a kidnapping case as this story opens, the daughter of a wealthy Chicago socialite has been kidnapped and the two detectives are working to make the pay-off with the kidnappers. Escott is the face of the business and Fleming uses his vampire powers in assisting him. In this case he keeps himself invisible as he follows the kidnappers to their hideout.
As well, this story has two other plot lines. Fleming's friend, Gordy, a Chicago mob leader is having meetings and difficulties with the New York mob and Fleming is trying to help him stay out of trouble. As well, Bobbi wants to hire a dance act for the night club, but there are difficulties with the relationship, with the husband cheating on his partner.
So there are many different features to this mystery thriller. One of the kidnappers also tries to blackmail Fleming with his knowledge of Fleming's vampire nature. Everything that is going on makes for a fascinating story, lots of action, lots of intrigue and vampire skills and talents. The story builds very nicely and comes to an intriguing climax. Along with the action and mystery, the story is peopled with interesting characters. It will definitely hold your interest. (3.5 stars)"
"Jack Fleming, ace reporter, always had a weak spot for strange ladies. And he certainly should have listened to the one who said she was a vampire! Because when a thug blasts several bullets through Jack's back, he does not die--and discovers that he is a vampire as well! First in an exciting new vampire adventure series."
The complete listing of Elrod's work can be found at this link. I hope you see something that interests you. Enjoy. Stay safe and get vaccinated, please. 😷
No comments:
Post a Comment