A Saturday Reading Update

Our visitors

Yesterday, Clyde and I went out for our noontime walk and as we were walking up our street two American bald eagles flew past us and lighted on one of the trees in our back yard. Needless to say, I kept Clyde close at hand as we walked up our driveway and home. Beautiful birds.

I got one new book (graphic novel) yesterday and will provide the synopses for it. I plan to read it before the end of the month as it's short and always exciting. I haven't completed anymore books since my last update but will provide synopses of 4 books that I plan to read in the near future. I'll also continue with my look at women authors whose work I've been enjoying.

New Book

1. Something is Killing the Children, Vol. Three by James Tynion IV (2021).

"As the House of Slaughter arrives to clean up the situation by any means necessary, Erica will find that the true threat to those around her isn’t who - or what - she ever expected. And the cost of saving the day may be too high for anyone to pay...

NOT ALL MONSTERS HIDE IN THE DARK.

Archer’s Peak is in lockdown, as Erica Slaughter has lost control of the situation and news of the killings has spread outside the town. But as the House of Slaughter arrives to clean up the situation by any means necessary, Erica will find that the true threat to those around her isn’t who - or what - she ever expected. And the cost of saving the day may be too high for anyone to pay..."

Upcoming Reads

1. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo (Harry Hole #7 / 2007).

"SOON THE FIRST SNOW WILL COME.

A young boy wakes to find his mother missing. Their house is empty but outside in the garden he sees his mother's favourite scarf - wrapped around the neck of a snowman.

AND THEN HE WILL APPEAR AGAIN.

As Harry Hole and his team begin their investigation they discover that an alarming number of wives and mothers have gone missing over the years.

AND WHEN THE SNOW IS GONE...

When a second woman disappears it seems that Harry's worst suspicions are confirmed: for the first time in his career Harry finds himself confronted with a serial killer operating on his home turf.

...HE WILL HAVE TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE."

2. Crime Machine by Giles Blunt (John Cardinal #5 / 2010). This is the last book in this series that I've to read.

"A year after the death of his beloved and troubled wife, Catherine, John Cardinal has moved into a new, but very humid, condo. He has fallen into an easy routine of work on cold case files and platonic movie nights with friend and colleague Lise Delorme. The quiet of a snow-covered Algonquin Bay is shattered when the decapitated bodies of two people are found in a summer home on Trout Lake. The victims, visitors from Russia, are in Algonquin Bay attending the annual fur auction. This is by no means a routine murder investigation as Cardinal soon discovers, but a horrific piece of a very twisted puzzle. Blunt has, once again, given us a page-turning plot, a remarkable cast of characters and the comfort of John Cardinal at the helm."

3. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (Todd Family #1 / 2013).

"On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war.

Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can — will she?"

And now for a new author for me....

4. The Downloaded by Robert J. Sawyer (2024).

"In 2059 two very different groups have their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in Waterloo, Ontario. One group consists of astronauts preparing for Earth's first interstellar voyage. The other? Convicted murderers, serving their sentences in a virtual-reality prison. But when disaster strikes, the astronauts and the prisoners must download back into physical reality and find a way to work together to save Earth from destruction."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Ai Jiang

Ai Jiang

Ai Jiang is a Canadian author whose work I discovered last year. She writes 'horror' or as described in Wikipedia, speculative fiction. And also poetry, although I haven't tried any of that yet. She was born China in 1997 and moved to Canada 4 years later. She attended my alma mater University of Toronto where she got her BA (so did I. 😊) She has published 3 books so far and also had a short story published in a compendium). Thus far I've enjoyed one book and the compendium and have one more on my book shelf. Let's take a look, shall we?

1. Linghun (2023).

"Linghun is a novella, along with a couple of short stories and one essay, by Canadian author, Ai Jiang. I was pleasantly surprised by it, such great writing.

In Linghun, Wenki and her mother and father move to the town of Home. Normally when a home is vacant in this town (or more just a street I guess), there is an auction so the Lingerers (more on them later, if I remember) can try to buy one. In Wenki's case, they bought the house from cousins who moved out.

So the reason people move to Home is to try to make contact with the spirits of dead family members. In Wenki's case, it is her older brother who died when Wenki was just a youngster. Wenki's mother is desperate to find Tianqi and basically ignores Wenki and her sympathetic husband. Wenki must try to live a normalish life by going to school, which basically lives in the past and the last class of the day is a round table where the children tell of the success or lack thereof in seeing their dead kin.

The story is told between three characters, Wenki of course. There is Liam, a fellow student, a Lingerer. So, Lingerers are families who move to Home but can't afford a home and basically live in the yards of those who have homes, hoping to acquire a home through the auction. (Think of The Lottery, but darker, when you think of the auction process) The third character is Mrs., an older mysterious woman who lives across the street from Wenki.

It's a strange story as these varied people try to find ways to see their dead kin, some successfully, some not. Wenki and Liam basically want to leave, try to get back to a normal existence. Will they be able to? The discussion of death, coping / or not, living for the present or the past and making it such a fascinating story, a page turner, impressed me deeply. Ai Jiang elaborates on her thoughts on this matter in a follow-on essay and then also provides two short stories; Yongshi and Teeter - Totter just for additional enjoyment. Beautiful writing, dark setting, super story / stories. (4.5 stars)"

2. Smol Tales from Between Worlds (2023).

"This edition of TFBPresents features a varied collection of short fiction from rising star, Ai Jiang.

Hopping from fantasy, to horror, to literary pieces and more, Smol Tales From Between Worlds announces a major talent that is just getting started.
"Jiang is widely considered to be one of the most exciting young voices in science fiction, fantasy, and horror."
– Dark Matter Magazine

TFBPresents focuses on the fiction of a single author per edition, complete with author notes on each story and a wide-ranging interview, it's a must-have publication for fans of genre fiction."

3. Odd Jobs: Six Files from the Department of Inhuman Resources (2024). A collection of short stories, edited by TJ Price, with one story by Ai Jiang.

"(Full Disclosure - One of the authors asked if I would be interested in reading this new book and I said yes because it sounded interesting.)

Odd Jobs: Six Files from the Department of Inhuman Resources is a collection of short stories by six horror authors. The book is edited by T.J.  Price and they purport to be a series of files that have been released by an employee of the Dept. of Inhuman Resources, a dangerous undertaking that might result in his death... or maybe firing. 

The six stories highlight odd jobs, some for the Company, presenting either a dystopic world or strange happenings.

1. Lips Sealed, Steeped in Oil, Pores Opening like Mouths by Ai Jiang

2. Rags to Riches by Ivy Grimes

3. These Little Tyrants by Erik McHatton

4. In the Lights of their Bones by Carson Winter

5. Investigation into a Disappearance by Christi Nogle

6. Future Portraits of the Unhappy Dead by Caleb Stephens

The stories themselves aren't horrifying, rather more creepy and unsettling, each author presenting their story in their own unique style. The only writer of the group who I've tried previously is Ai Jiang, the author of Linghun.

In Lips sealed, a young lady begins working for the company. She wants to be an environmentalist but decides to work for this 'oil' company first. It's a limited term and it will give her the money to switch to environmentalist issues, so she believes. But the experience will leave her incapable of living in the 'real' world. This oil world seeps into the real world, destroying forests, animals, people. But it also sinks into her very skin, her very pores, her soul. 

(Oh yes, at the beginning of each story, a personal or performance report or mental evaluation is provided on the main character. It's a neat touch)

In Rags to Riches, Penny works in the Bookstore, a strange sort of place. She is filled with ambition and wants to rise to the executive level. Each level strikes her as odd and she wants to change things. The Owner is watching her and moves her along quickly. But it's not what Penny expects. (Although quite different, it did make me think of a graphic I'd read about the Albertan oil sands, Ducks0

In These Little Tyrants, the main character is being abused by her boss Michelle, being made to perform the most mundane of tasks. She complains to Bill, a potential boyfriend, who disappears suddenly. However she finds herself being promoted, but not to where she expects. She is moved to production, cleaning pink slime from vats in the basement and sees many strange things... (I'm somewhat reminded of Soylent Green... somewhat).

In the Light of their Bones - A young man begins a new jobs, after a 'pandemic' of sorts. It's not completely explained but it seems a 'light' has done something to the insides of people. Finally allowed outdoors, he joins a clean-up crew. Released from the safe zone each day, they move to empty apartment buildings, homes, cleaning out any bodies, the furniture, sanitizing the homes. But something happens to the young fella.....

In Investigation into a Disappearance, an English professor is interrogated by a.... police officer? about the disappearance of one of her students or a girl she mentored. Only briefly mentioned, the various departments; Fine Arts, History seem to be empty, falling into disrepair. When the investigator doesn't show up one day, the Professor tries to find Debi, this budding author she tried, unsuccessfully to mentor. We now move to Debi's house... (now this had me thinking of House of Leaves, or Doctor Who).. The house is not what it seems from the outside. What had Debi done? (Oh one of the Classic Twilight Zones is about a young boy who has very strong mental powers....)

Finally, there is Future Portraits of the Unhappy Dead where we meet Ronald Hart who works for a telephone / computer repair shop in a small town in Texas. Ronald begins seeing things in the phones / laptops where people are being abused or killed and after not doing anything the first time, he decides he has to stop the perpetrators. He also loves the girl in charge of the shop, but she only has eyes for another fella. (Think the Dead Zone with this one).

Every story is interesting and different. They leave you feeling unsettled at the very least. The endings are always open to your interpretation. A neat concept and an entertaining collection. I think it's worth checking out the individual authors works. (4.0 stars)" 

You can find out more about Ai Jiang on her own web page or also check out Wikipedia.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

For Janice - Books Part 11

 

It seems we've had the worst of our brief, oh so brief, cold snap. Jo and I stayed home yesterday... well, I went out for an hour to run some errands but other than that, it was relax with the puppies on the sofa for most of the day. Not sure what we're going to do today. Maybe I'll do some ironing!

I'm making steady progress on Eve by Cat Bohannon. It's my Tome challenge and I'm trying to read a chapter a day. Very interesting book.

Family Room bookshelf

But for today, I'm going to continue looking at bookshelves and the books on them. I have moved into the family room and discussed the visible shelves.

Behind the closed doors

Today I'll start with the bottom shelves behind the closed doors. Have I stoked enough mystery?

The A's

There just isn't enough space to put all of these books on our shelves so a lot are stored here. I do read them and set them free. Honest. There are in alphabetical order from top left - top right - bottom left and finally bottom right. For the most part they are stacked three deep so I'll do one shelf at a time. Let's begin with the A's. Mostly mysteries to start but there is a mixture. I was introduced to Elizabeth Acevedo this past year, an interesting writer who tends to tell her stories in verse. The two books I read were favorites of 2023. Jussi Adler-Olsen writes the Department Q mysteries set in Denmark. I've enjoyed the 1st two books and need to get back to this series as it was excellent. Dead Dead Girls is a mystery by a new author for me, Canadian author Nekesa Afia, who sets her series in Harlem. Omar El Akkad is another Canadian author. What Strange Paradise won the Giller Prize in 2021. I have a few of Margery Allingham's books spread throughout the house, depending on their size mostly. She is author of the Albert Campion mysteries. I mentioned her previously as one of the 4 Queens of Crime; Allingham, Christie, Marsh and Sayers. Chester Anderson, The Butterfly Kid, is another new author. I saw the book at 2nd Page Books in Courtenay and it did sound interesting. Piers Anthony wrote some of my favorite Sci Fi / Fantasy series. Unicorn Point is the 6th book in the Apprentice Adept series. Kate Atkinson is an author who can do no wrong. Whether it's her Jackson Brodie mystery series or an others of her excellent books, she does know how to spin a tail. Atkinson was the focus of my most recent reading update. Canadian author Margaret Atwood is another favorite. I've enjoyed her fiction, Sci Fi (The Handmaid's Tale), her poetry, her essays. Prodigious and excellent author. Old Babes in the Woods is her most recent work, a collection of her short stories.

The A's to C's

2. A's continued - C's. Another Atwood starts this row. For some reason I've never read Alias Grace. Jo and I enjoyed the TV mini-series based on the book very much. I finally picked up a copy of the book. I've mentioned Iain M. Banks before. He wrote the excellent Culture Sci Fi series. I'm still working through that. He also wrote many standalones. Transition falls within that category. The next two are new mystery authors for me; Base & Emory are Canadian authors who have started the Priscilla Tempest mystery series. Quentin Bates has set his mystery series in Iceland. Belinda Bauer is an English author. Finders Keepers is the 3rd book in her Exmoor trilogy. The Facts of Life and Death is a standalone. I've enjoyed her work very much so far. S.J. Bennet is another new mystery writer, featuring Her Majesty the Queen as an investigator. We'll see. Rock, Paper, Tiger by Lisa Brackmann was such an excellent surprise as a new mystery writer for me. I look forward to trying the 2nd book in her Ellie McEnroe series, Hour of the Rat. Alan Bradley is a Canadian author of the Flavia de Luce mystery series, featuring the precocious, irritating but interesting youngster, battling with her sisters and solving mysteries. Geraldine Brooks, author of Horse, is a new author for me. I've heard good things about the book. I mentioned Ken Bruen when I talked about books in other rooms. I guess they should all be together. He writes the excellent Irish mystery series featuring crusty detective Jack Taylor. Also an excellent TV series. John Burdette, author of Bangkok Haunts, obviously sets his mystery series in Bangkok; featuring excellent stories, corruption, all sorts of neat stuff. Andrea Camilleri sets his Inspector Montalbano series in Italy. I can't say how much I like it yet as I've only read one and it didn't blow me away, but it was still entertaining. John Dickson Carr featured Dr, Gideon Fell in his mysteries, written in the 30s and continued into the 50s. I liked the first book. Jonathan Carroll is a new author for me, writer of Sci Fi and Fantasy. I enjoyed his collection of short stories, The Panic Hand. It was excellent.

C's to F's

3. C's continued to F's. As usual there is a mix of new to familiar authors and of genres. Coq au Vin is the 2nd book of Charlotte Carter's Nanette Hayes mystery series. This one takes place in Paris. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is a new author for me, a historical fantasy set in China. And yes, it probably should be under P... LOL. I have quite a few of Ann Cleeves mysteries. Harbour Street is one of her Vera Stanhope series. Also a great TV series. I read the first book in Gary Corby's Athenian historical mystery series and The Ionia Sanction is #2. Edmund Crispin is an odd, unique mystery writer and his Gervase Fen books have been enjoyable. I do look forward to reading them all. I bought Consumed by David Cronenberg to see if his writing is as weird as his movies. Elizabeth Daly wrote her Henry Gamadge mystery series in the 40s, The Book of the Dead was #8. I saw the David Demchuk book, Red X, when I was down in Nanaimo. It's a 'horror' story set in Toronto's Gay district. Sounded interesting. Sky to Sky is a mystery series set in BC, featuring truck driver / mystery solver Hunter Rayne. I liked the first book. Adrian Edmondson is a British comedian and this is basically the story of his life. Martin Edwards is a new mystery writer for me and seems to be prolific. Gallows Court is the first in his Rachel Savernake golden age mystery series. Liz Evans is most enjoyable. Her mysteries feature English PI Grace Smith, kind of a cross between Stephanie Plum and Kinsey Milhone. The first two books were most enjoyable. Charles Finch writes another historical mystery series featuring armchair detective Charles Lenox. I enjoyed the first book enough to try the 2nd in the series. Karin Fossum writes a mystery series set in Sweden featuring police inspector Sejer. I've enjoyed the first book I tried very much. Finally in this cabinet is Francis Fyfield's Shadow on the Mirror, the first book in her Sarah Fortune mystery series. I've tried her work and enjoyed but struggled to the the first books in her Sarah Fortune and her Helen West books. Looking forward to exploring more.

So there you go. Enough books to check out for you? Enjoy your upcoming week.

Reading Update #2 of January 2024

So we are having the coldest weather we've had in a few years. But it's supposed to start warming up tomorrow or the next day. A bit of snow today to go along with the cold. Made it a perfect reason to have McDonald's today. Don't you think? 

Taking a quick break from my ongoing look at our book shelves and books to provide a reading update. I've completed two more books this past week, making it 3 so far in 2024. I'll provide my reviews and also the synopses of the next two, plus synopses of any books I might have bought since my last update.

Just Finished

1. Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #1 / 1966). My 12 + 4 challenge is to read all of the Le Guin books I've got on my book shelves.

"Other than some short stories, Rocannon's World was Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel and the beginning of a prolific, excellent career. It is also the 1st novel in Le Guin's Hainish Sci Fi series. The story is a bit rough and ready but still an excellent read.

The planet Fomalhaut II was made a part of the League of All Worlds many years ago. The Starlords had landed, exacted tribute from the 3 races on the planet, did a bit of a survey and then basically left it on its own. A scientific team lead by Rocannon, beginning a more detailed exploration is attacked by an unknown alien force and only Rocannon survives. 

Wanting to avenge his teammates and also the races on Fomalhaut II, who have been attacked and enslaved by the aliens, Rocannon takes a small group of people and voyages into unknown territory to find the enemy and somehow defeat them.

That's the story at its simplest. It's also about friendship, loss and discovery. It's not the best of Le Guin's books that I've enjoyed but it's still well - crafted and well - paced. The relationships in this relatively short story still have an emotional impact when there are losses and the friendship does affect you. It's a nice introduction to Le Guin's work. (3.5 stars)"

2. The Big Four by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot #5 / 1927). My January Focus author is Agatha Christie. Hoping to read 2 or 3 at least.

"The Big Four is the 5th Hercule Poirot story by Agatha Christie. This story finds the famed Belgian detective and his friend and companion, Capt. Hastings in a battle of wits and wills against an international organization, The Big Four, that wants so sow discord around the world. 

As the two investigate, they slowly discover that the Big Four are 4 individuals; the brain is a Chinese mandarin, the money is an American billionaire, the technical know - how comes from a female French scientist and the brawn is a master of disguise, a British gentleman.

At every turn, Poirot and Hastings run against roadblocks. They come close and then the subject escapes their clutches. There are threats to their lives, to the lives of loved ones, e.g. Hastings' wife in Argentina. But they seem to be coming closer at each turn until very drastic measures are required for the final confrontation.

It's not my favorite Christie story but it shows a slightly different side of Poirot, a more active one in some cases. And who knew he had a brother. Still enjoyable and an interesting ending. (3.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin (Earthsea Cycle #4 / 1990). Switching from the Hainish cycle to her Earthsea fantasy series.

"In this fourth novel in the Earthsea series, we rejoin the young priestess the Tenar and powerful wizard Ged. Years before, they had helped each other at a time of darkness and danger. Together, they shared an adventure like no other. Tenar has since embraced the simple pleasures of an ordinary life, while Ged mourns the powers lost to him through no choice of his own.

Now the two must join forces again and help another in need the physically, emotionally scarred child whose own destiny has yet to be revealed."

2. They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #6 / 1943). Jo and I have enjoyed many of the Miss Marple TV adaptations. This one doesn't sound familiar.

"Miss Marple senses danger when she visits a friend living in Stoneygates, a rehabilitation center for delinquents. Her fears are confirmed when someone shoots at the administrator. Although he is not injured, a mysterious visitor is less fortunate; shot dead simultaneously in another part of the building.

Pure coincidence? Miss Marple thinks not, and must use all her cunning to solve the riddle of the stranger's visit … and his murder."

New Books

1. Big Sky by Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie #5 / 2019). Definitely one of my favorite authors.

"Jackson Brodie has relocated to a quiet seaside village, in the occasional company of his recalcitrant teenage son and an aging Labrador, both at the discretion of his ex-partner Julia. It's picturesque, but there's something darker lurking behind the scenes.

Jackson's current job, gathering proof of an unfaithful husband for his suspicious wife, is fairly standard-issue, but a chance encounter with a desperate man on a crumbling cliff leads him into a sinister network -- and back across the path of his old friend Reggie. Old secrets and new lies intersect in this breathtaking novel by one of the most dazzling and surprising writers at work today."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater was born in Virginia in 1981 and is a writer of Young Adult fantasy and fiction. I read The Scorpio Races back in 2016 and was so impressed with it. It was around the time I had started other YA Fantasy series and this stood out for me. Now this is the only one of her stories I've read so far but in the last couple of years I've purchased some others of her books and I look forward to trying them. I'll highlight The Scorpio Races and the 3 books I have on my book shelf.

1. The Scorpio Races (2011).

"This was such an excellent story, well-written, a page turner, thoughtful and even emotional. It's a YA fantasy, so I was thinking it was more of The Hunger Games, but it was quite different in some ways. 

Each year on an island off America, Thisby, the Scorpio Races take place. The difference between a normal horse race and the Scorpio races is that the horses used come from the sea, and they are meat eaters. They wash ashore during storms and some are captured and kept on land. In November, the races take place. People and horses will die. 

Sean Kendricks, a young man who works for the wealthiest landowner on the island, has won 4 of the last 6 races, on a horse named Corr. He competes with the landowner's son and others; there is ill-feeling between him and Mutt Malvern, partly because Mutt's father seems to prefer Sean. 

Kate (Puck) Connolly needs to enter this year's race, to try and keep her family together and to keep her family home. However, there has never been a girl in the Scorpio Races before and Kate will be riding her land horse, Dove, not a water horse. 

This is the premise of this fantastic story. The book is peopled with wonderful characters, Kate and her brothers, Sean, George Holly (the horse trader from the mainland), Peg Gratton, Dory Maud and her sisters and the story draws you in more and more until you can't put the book down. I want to go the bakery on the island and have November Cakes, they sound delicious. Excellent book and I have to give it (5 stars)."

2. Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls 3.5 / 2014).

"Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Series. Cole St. Clair has come to California for one reason, to get Isabel Culpeper back. She fled from his damaged, drained life, and damaged and drained it even more. He doesn't just want her. He needs her. Isabel is trying to build herself a life in Los Angeles. It's not really working. She can play the game as well as all the other fakes. But what's the point? What is there to win? Cole and Isabel share a past that never seemed to have a future. They have the power to love each other and the power to tear each other apart. The only thing for certain is that they cannot let go."

3. Call Down the Hawk (Dreamer Trilogy #1 / 2019).

"The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming – they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives – they will sleep forever if their dreamers die.

And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them. To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all.

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality.

Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it.

Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . . ."

4. Mister Impossible (Dreamer Trilogy #2 / 2021).

"Something is happening to the source of the dreamers' power. It is blocked. Diminished. Weak. If it goes away entirely, what will happen to the dreamers and those who depend on them?

Ronan Lynch isn't planning to wait and find out. Backed by his mentor, Bryde, he is ready to do what needs to be done to save the dreamers and the dreamed . . . even if it takes him far from his family and the boy he loves.

Jordan Hennessy knows she will not survive if the dreaming fails. So she plunges into a dark underworld in order to find an object that may sustain her.

Carmen Farooq-Lane is afraid of the dreamers -- which is why she's agreed to hunt them down. The closer she gets, though, the more complicated her feelings become. Will the dreamers destroy the world . . . or will the world be destroyed trying to eliminate the dreamers?"

So there you go. Do any of the above pique your interest? You can see all of Maggie Stiefvater's books at this link.

Reading Advent Calendar 2023 - Dec 17

Here is your Advent Calendar book for today.

Dec. 17 - When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson (Jackson Brodie #3 / 2008).

"Who can you compare Kate Atkinson to? I hesitate to try to compare to 'mystery' writers because her stories are more than that, but how about Margaret Atwood, Margaret Millar, Helen MacInnes, P.D. James, Holly Roth, Minette Walters. Michael Gilbert or Hillary Waugh. Now I'm just naming names. Anyway, it's the richness and intricacy of Atkinson's stories and the wonderful characters she creates that I enjoy about her writing. Whether it's the Jackson Brodie 'mysteries' or the Todd Family. She has a knack for drawing you in and making you go back and forth in time, from character to character that makes her story - telling so fascinating.

When Will There Be Good News? is the 3rd book in the Jackson Brodie series, which started with Case Histories which was published in 2004. There are now five books in this series, with a new one coming out in 2024!! Yay!!! While this is a Brodie mystery, the real star is teenage girl Reggie, baby-sitter to the Hunters, 'student' & helper to former teacher, Ms. MacDonald and sister to troublesome, Billy.

But, wait, let's go back a step. The story starts with the Mason family, mother, three children and dog walking along a country lane, returning home. Dad is absent, having made them move to the country, then basically abandoning them. One of the children is Joanna Mason (who will become Joanna Hunter, see the first link?). A stranger comes upon them, with tragic results, leaving only Joanna, hiding in the corn fields. (some crop anyway.)

Back to the present, where Joanna Hunter is now a GP with a little boy and a dog and a somewhat useless husband. Reggie, parentless due to the death of both mother, who she misses, and father, who she cares not a whit about, survives on her own and works for the Hunters. 

Events are going to take a quick turn for the worse. DCI Louise Monroe (who has featured in the other Brodie books) tells her that the murderer of her family is being released from prison and the press are looking for her. Events begin to spiral after this, making for an exciting story.

Hey wait a minute, you say! What about Jackson Brodie? He is in the story. Heading home to London  from some sort of case, to meet his wife, he discovers that he's on the wrong train, instead heading to Edenborough. And there is a train crash, just outside where Reggie is staying, waiting for Ms. MacDonald to return home. So there is Jackson, who will ultimately play a role in resolving this intricate, fascinating story.

But it's Reggie who is the real hero. When Joanna disappears, she is the one who prods and pokes Louise and Jackson to find out what happened. She is the one who is being terrorized by 'friends' of Billy, her waste of space brother. She is the one who takes the dog from the Hunters and keeps it safe. Such a wonderful character, brave, smart, mouthy, in a good way.

It's a beautiful story which wanders around from character to character, delving into their pasts, into their lives, filled with snappy dialogue and neat little connections that satisfy and excite you. If you've never read an Atkinson story, you don't know what you're missing. I loved it. (4.5 stars)"

Enjoy your upcoming week.