Some New Books & Women Authors

Another Wednesday is upon us with January fast approaching the end. How fast the days go by! So let's see. since my last update three books have arrived. I'll provide synopses for them and also continue with my look at women authors whose work I've been enjoying. I'll also review the one book I completed and also provide the synopses of the next in line, plus another I started this morning. So, let's go!

Just Finished

1. Deadly Beloved by Jane Haddam (Gregor Demarkian #15 / 1997). This is part of my dusty book challenge I've had this on my shelves for too long.

"It's been a few years since I delved into the world of former FBI profiler Gregor Demarkian. I'm glad to refresh my memories of this entertaining mystery series. Deadly Beloved is the 15th book in the series by Jane Haddam. There is much excitement on Cavanaugh Street in Philadelphia as the community prepares for the impending nuptials of Donna Moradanyan and Russel Donahue, ex Philadelphia cop and now a lawyer. Gregor Demarkian is in a troubled mood as the whole thing is bringing back memories of his wedding to his now deceased wife Elizabeth. He needs a distraction... and he gets one.

Patsy McLaren Willis is making plans. Her husband Kevin has announced that he will no longer be traveling for his work and will instead be working in an office in Philadelphia. Patsy loads up her car with all of her belongings, shoots Kevin with a silenced revolver while he sleeps and then heads off, departing her gated community of Fox Run in the early hours. She parks in a parking garage downtown, leaves her car, goes to the bank and withdraws $15,000, then disappears. Shortly after that there is an explosion in the parking garage, destroying her car and everything else. Police Police Lt John Jackman calls in Gregor to consult on the murder and explosion.

And now begins a fascinating story, filled with excellent characters and more explosions and other action that will tax Gregor's ingenuity and skill as an investigator. All the while, he is also helping his friends Bennis and Tibor deal with the wedding crisis. Peter, Donna's ex boyfriend and purported father to her child has decided to make waves and is indicating he will show up to disrupt the wedding.

It's just a great, intricate, fun story for a murder mystery. The characters are so well defined and all play a role in the story. The residents of Fox Run all have a story to tell. The school mates of Patsy McLaren Willis all want to figure out the case and all want to talk to the famous Gregor Demarkian, the Armenian - American Hercule Poirot as the press describes him.

The story jumps from character to character, from the murder mystery to the wedding preparations. So many wonderful characters and such an entertaining mystery with a satisfying conclusion. Most enjoyable to enter this world again. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Chinese Alchemist by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch #11 / 2007). Another book in my dusty book challenge. Yes, I've had for awhile.

"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."

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."

New Books

1. No Good from a Corpse by Leigh Brackett (1943). I've enjoyed Brackett's mysteries and her Sci-Fi. This is one of her first. I focused on her work in a previous Blog.

"Laurel Dane was no angel. She'd changed men as often as she'd changed her hair color, and there was plenty in her past she'd like to forget. But no one deserved to be beaten to death, and private eye Ed Clive didn't believe that her boyfriend had killed her. Pursuing her own lonely trail, he found out just how easily jealousy and twisted rage could turn a human being into a monster of violence."

2. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #2 / 2007). A newish series for me. I have read a graphic novel featuring Mercy.

"Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him."

3. Bloodcircle by P.N. Elrod (Vampire Files #3 / 1990). I've been reading this series out of order but have lately began to get the earlier books. It's such a nice mix of vampire horror and pulp mystery.

"WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, MY DAY BEGINS...
As a vampire, I have a number of handy skills - I can hypnotize mortals, walk through walls, and shrug off bullets like insults. The one thing I haven't been able to manage, so far, is to find the woman who made me what I am.

Until now. Maybe.

her trail has led me to the palatial estate of a wealthy widow - and a two-hundred-year-old gigolo with a taste for young blood. He claims not to know where my long-lost lady is - or who is trying to kill me - but then again, you can never trust a vampire.

I should know."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Doris Miles Disney

Doris Miles Disney

Doris Miles Disney was an American mystery author of 47 novels. She was born in 1907 in Glastonbury Conn and died in 1976 in Fredericksburg, Va. She did write a number of series books, featuring 3 different characters but I've only read her standalones. Thus far I've read only 1 of her books but I enjoyed it very much and have since added another to my book shelf. I do look forward to trying much more of her work.

1. No Next of Kin (1959).

"No Next of Kin is my first look at the work of American mystery writer Doris Miles Disney and I was pleasantly surprised by it; a most enjoyable, quickly paced mystery. Over the course of her life, 1907 - 1976, she wrote 47 novels, some in series format, others standalone. No Next of Kin is one of her standalones

Andrea Langdon has a deep dark secret. As a young girl, almost 18, she became pregnant at a party, was abandoned and with the aid of a loving teacher, boarded her child with strangers. When Greg was five, she takes him back with the hope of showing Greg to her father and having the youngster become a member of her family. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes at a county fair, when a fire starts and rages. Andrea, injured herself, doesn't identify the body of the little boy as hers and must carry the secret for the rest of her life.

Now begins a tale of blackmail and threats as the father, Seymour Boyd, turns up. Andrea comes from a rich family and her father is running for a seat as a Connecticut Rep. Boyd digs up the dirt, with the help of Walt Horbal (husband of the family who boarded Greg as a child), demands money from Andrea. Reporter Fergus MacDonald, attracted to Andrea, suspects something and begins his own investigation.

It's a fascinating, quick-paced, well-written story. Lots of tension, a bit of action and violence, definitely a page turner. Fergus MacDonald is an excellent character. Andrea, a suitable victim, with sufficient strength and intelligence to appeal to Fergus. The villains are well-presented and interesting. I don't know that it's an original idea, but it's crafted in a satisfactory fashion and draws you in, making you want to see how it will resolve. And the ending is suitably satisfactory. All in all, an excellent mystery and story. Checking out more of Disney's work now. (4.0 stars)"

2. Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate (1970).

"After filling out a computer dating service card with a fictional name, Sophie's clowning days were about to come to an abrupt end. For one of her suitors was very, very serious. And he would make sure that this was Sophie's last laugh..."

A complete listing of Disney's works can be found at this link.