Happy Thursday

Had a reasonable run / walk this morning. There were a couple of slick patches on the sidewalk. We've had near 0 ℃ temperatures and some fog the past few days (Yes, I realize it's nothing like what's being experienced back East... stay warm and safe by the way) so it has made things a bit greasy. But it was still a refreshing run. Jo started a new chemo regime yesterday and it didn't seem to affect her too much. We had a nice lunch and a pretty good dinner; a couple of Aussie steaks, fried potatoes and some veggies. I'm a pretty darn good cook. It's nice she seems to have her taste back again and is enjoying her meals.

I'm off to donate blood this afternoon but thought it might be good to do a quick update.

Just Completed

(4 completed and one Did Not Finish - DNF since my last update)

1. Worlds Without End by Clifford D. Simak (Short Stories / Sci Fi / 1964).

"Over the past few years, I've been exploring the work of American Sci Fi author, Clifford D. Simak. He's been a hit-and-miss sort of author for me. There have been a couple of 5-star reads, City and The Werewolf Principle but there have also been 2 star selections, like Time Is the Simplest Thing and Empire. So it's always with a bit of trepidation when I decide to try another of his books. 

My latest was a collection of short stories, Worlds Without End, which contains 3 short stories. And, to be fair, this ran the same gamut as the novels I've tried. The first story, Worlds without End was probably my least favorite of the 3. It is set in the far future where people sign up for the Dream, basically hibernation. They've been doing it for 500 years. Norman Blaine is one of the people who works there and gets involved in a struggle between the various Guilds who run Earth. His boss is found murdered. A man escapes after 500 years in Dream. Norman tries to figure out everything, the plots and schemes between the guilds. The concept was interesting but the ending wasn't satisfying and it didn't really grab me... I'd give that one 2.0 - 2.5 stars

Story 2, The Spaceman's Van Gogh, follows Anson Lathrop as he teleports to a distant planet, following a 'famed' artist, Reuben Clay, who had died there. Anson has been following his route through various planets and has jumped to this planet because he has lost Clay's trail. At the planet, Lathrop meets the inhabitants of the planet, a gnomelike people, who had admired Clay, thinking his art was magic. It was a more enjoyable story, still not perfect but thoughtful and interesting... 3.0 stars

The 3rd story, Full Cycle, was definitely my favorite. It's set in a dystopic future and follows history professor Amby Wilson. Wilson's life has been upturned as his university in Minnesota (or somewhere up north) has closed down. Amby decides to go on the road, with his neighbour and family, trying to settle with one of the roving communities that have formed in the US. They work on farms, factories, etc. and move on when that work has been completed. It's a fascinating life. Amby and his friends cannot find a community to settle with as they are all filled up and neither can offer any particular skills. One morning Amby discovers his travelling companions have abandoned them. As Amby continues down the road on his own, he discovers something new and exciting in this 'new' world order. I won't ruin it by getting into much detail but it's quite interesting. Definitely my favorite story and I'd rate that a 4.0 stars. Overall, an interesting read, some better than the other. (3.5 stars)"

2. The Serial Garden; The Complete Armitage Stories by Joan Aiken (2008). My first 5-star read of 2026.

"I can't remember where I heard of this book, The Serial Garden: The Complete Armitage Family Stories by English author Joan Aiken but I'm so glad that I discovered it. Such a wonderful collection of fantasy stories. The cover artwork in this Big Mouth House edition was by American artist Beth Adams. My wife thought it was so striking that I ordered a print of it for her Xmas gift this year. The inside illustrations are also excellent and they are by Andi Watson.

So with that out of the way, what to say about this surprising book. The book contains the complete collection of the Armitage family stories that Joan Aiken wrote over the period 1953, to some previously unpublished that were discovered in 2008. If you've ever enjoyed The Secret Garden, the Narnia books or the fantasy books of Susan Cooper, amongst others, you'll love these stories as well.

The Armitage family live in a small village in southern England and consist of the ever harassed Mr. Armitage, the lovely Mrs. Armitage and their two  children, Mark and Harriet. In the final story, a new edition, Milo, makes an appearance. It's a seemingly normal village, with village fairs, music classes, school life, etc. but it's also peopled with witches, unicorns, magicians, goblins, little people, sometimes the Furies, etc. And the lovely thing is, it's all taken as just in the course of normal events. Sure, the goblins might cause some irritation. Sure the cantankerous witches might cast the odd spell on you if you bother them. But it's all dealt with.

Mark and Harriet live their lives, dealing with all of the fantastical, wonderful things that go on about them, with coolness and aplomb. The stories tend to focus on one or the other, or both. They get the normal illnesses like whooping cough, measles and the other one might have an adventure then. They get visits from weird and strange relatives. Oh, they have a 300 year old ghost who lives in the spare bedroom and in one instance chaperones Harriet on a school day because her parents are otherwise occupied. As I mentioned previously, they also have a unicorn who lives with them and a big old cat, the Walrus.

The fantasies are just so wonderful and imaginative. For the most part they end fairly happily, but even there, there are a couple of story lines that are quite touchingly sad. There is Mr. Johannsson, the music teacher, who lost the love of his life, many years ago when she cast a spell so the two of them could marry, but the message was not passed on by her mean sister. Now the Countess lives in a fairy world waiting for Mr. Johansson. At least two attempts are made by Harriet and Mark to reunite them, but ... well, I'll leave it at that.

The collection of stories are rich, wonderful, entertaining and just a joy to read. They suit adults and at the same time would be wonderful for parents to sit with their children to read together. Just lovely, great stories and a fantastic collection. (5.0 stars)"

3. The Devil's Breath by Tessa Harris (Dr. Thomas Silkstone #3 / 2013). My first DNF of 2026.

"The Devil's Breath is the 3rd book in the Dr. Thomas Silkstone historical mystery series by Tessa Harris. I 'liked' the first two books but after 85 pages of this 3rd book, I've decided to put the book & series down. 

In the Devil's Breath a mysterious fog is sweeping across England (acid rain??) and people are dying when caught out in it. At the same time, Thomas and his fiancé Lady Lydia are looking for her son. She had always assumed that the boy died in birth but it turns out that her husband of that time, had given it to a wet nurse... When he died, the wet nurse put the child into a work 'camp'.... 

And there is more intrigue as someone else is trying to find the boy, as, being the next male of the family, he stands to inherit the estate from his father.. 

It was an interesting concept but I just couldn't find enough interest to keep going... Please don't use my review to make your decision. If you liked the 1st two, keep on going. But for me, I'm finished... (NR)"

4. The Big Fat Kill by Frank Miller (Sin City #3 / 1994).

"Sin City, Vol. 3: The Big Fat Kill is the 3rd volume of the Sin City graphic novel series by Frank Miller. Dwight is with Shellie when her abusive boyfriend and some pals barge in. They want Shellie to get some of her girl friends so they can all party. Dwight scares them away so the 'boys' decide to joyride around Sin City to find girls.

Unfortunately, they run into Gail and the other girls who run Sin City, with an arrangement with the cops. The cops will stay away and the girls will control the prostitution, drugs and keep the city safe. Jackie Boy and pals harass one of the ladies of the night and are attacked and killed by Gail, Mihu and the other girls.

Dwight and Gail discover that Jackie Boy is actually an undercover cop so they need to dispose of the body so the cops won't know he's dead. While Dwight takes all of the bodies to the tar pits, the mob hits Sin City and take Gail... Lots of problems.

Dwight and the other ladies now have to save Gail and get rid of the mob... 

Needless to say, it's a gritty, violent, stark, excellent story. All of the artwork is black and white which creates a great effect. The characters are drawn so well. Everything about this series is excellent. Great crime novel, great, strong characters and enough action to satisfy you. (4.0 stars)"

5. God Flare by David A. Robertson (Reckoner Rises #3 / 2024).

"God Flare| is the 3rd graphic novel in the Reckoner Rises graphic novel series by Canadian indigenous author David Alexander Robertson. The series started with a novel trilogy as well. I have yet to read the novels. 

The series is set in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the Wounded Sky reservation. The folks at Mihko Labs are trying to sell the creatures / monsters to another organization but the lab doesn't trust the potential buyers. They have a bad feeling about the buyers and send their pack to deal with them... some weird creatures.

Meanwhile, Cole and Eva and the others are trying to discover the God Flare, a potion that will five another of them super powers. They need more so they can do battle with Mihko.

That is the basis premise of this short story. Like the others, it's interesting but it leaves everything hanging at the end. The artwork is excellent and the story is also interesting. I look forward to finding out what happens next when Volume 4 comes out... 

Oh, one neat textual thing happened, the crossing of the 4th wall. One of the characters tells the author that he needs to move on with the story rather than give up secrets of a spirit lodge. And the author (shown in the story) agrees to move on. (3.0 stars)"

Currently Reading (just the books I've started since my last update)

1. The Confession of Brother Haluin by Ellis Peters (Cadfael #15 / 1988).

"Brother Cadfael is witness to a shocking near-death confession and accompanies a fellow Benedictine on a dangerous quest for redemption."

2. Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales by P. D. James (2017). The first two were very interesting.

"A holiday gift for all  P. D. James fans to stand alongside her bestselling The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories : six previously uncollected stories from the beloved "Queen of Crime"--swift, cunning murder mysteries from throughout her extraordinary career.

Put your feet up and enjoy a good read! Longtime P. D. James fans will devour these short tales of criminality and deception, each one a pleasure, evocative and engrossing. Including several stories originally published in magazines, this enchanting arrangement of memorable whodunits treats the reader to atmospheric storytelling, mysteries to be solved, and enjoyable puzzles that will keep you guessing. With wit and warmth, P. D. James pays tribute to her English crime-writing forebears, delighting in the dark secrets that lurk beneath the surface of quintessentially English settings.

       Sleep No More is a beautifully produced, rare gift book, and an exciting addition to the P. D. James library, offering her devoted readers a glimpse of earlier work never before collected between two covers, and--for those who come newly to it--a delightful place to begin."

3. Suez: Britain's End of Empire in the Middle East by Keith Kyle (1991) I have read a shorter story about the Suez crisis but I've wanted to read this for quite a long time.

"Keith Kyle has drawn on a wealth of documentary evidence to tell this fascinating political, military, and diplomatic story of how Britain, France, and Israel colluded in attacking Egypt, ostensibly to protect the Suez Canal, but in reality to depose Gamal Abdul Nasser . The US opposition to this scheme forced an ignominious withdrawal, and Nasser was triumphant. Above all, Britain’s imperial posture was decisively over. Suez is acknowledged as the classic work on the subject."

4. Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace (Archivist Wasp Saga #1 / 2015).

"Wasp's job is simple. Hunt ghosts. And every year she has to fight to remain Archivist. Desperate and alone, she strikes a bargain with the ghost of a super soldier. She will go with him on his underworld hunt for the long-lost ghost of his partner and in exchange she will find out more about his pre-apocalyptic world than any Archivist before her. And there is much to know. After all, Archivists are marked from birth to do the holy work of a goddess. They're chosen. They're special. Or so they've been told for four hundred years.

Archivist Wasp fears she is not the chosen one, that she won't survive the trip to the underworld, that the brutal life she has escaped might be better than where she is going. There is only one way to find out."

New Purchases (I did buy 3 yesterday when I was waiting for Jo to finish her chemo treatment and a couple more came in the mail). I'll highlight a few of them.

1. Bunny by Mona Awad (Bunny #1 / 2019).

"We were just these innocent girls in the night trying to make something beautiful. We nearly died. We very nearly did, didn't we?

Samantha Heather Mackey couldn't be more of an outsider in her small, highly selective MFA program at New England's Warren University. A scholarship student who prefers the company of her dark imagination to that of most people, she is utterly repelled by the rest of her fiction writing cohort--a clique of unbearably twee rich girls who call each other Bunny, and seem to move and speak as one.

But everything changes when Samantha receives an invitation to the Bunnies' fabled Smut Salon, and finds herself inexplicably drawn to their front door--ditching her only friend, Ava, in the process. As Samantha plunges deeper and deeper into the Bunnies' sinister yet saccharine world, beginning to take part in the ritualistic off-campus Workshop where they conjure their monstrous creations, the edges of reality begin to blur. Soon, her friendships with Ava and the Bunnies will be brought into deadly collision.

The spellbinding new novel from one of our most fearless chroniclers of the female experience, Bunny is a down-the-rabbit-hole tale of loneliness and belonging, friendship and desire, and the fantastic and terrible power of the imagination."

2. Murder Before Evensong by Reverend Richard Coles (Canon Clement #1 / 2022). Jo and I watched the 1st Season of the TV series based on the book(s) and enjoyed it very much.

"Canon Daniel Clement is Rector of Champton. He has been there for eight years, living at the Rectory alongside his widowed mother - opinionated, fearless, ever-so-slightly annoying Audrey - and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda.

When Daniel announces a plan to install a lavatory in church, the parish is suddenly (and unexpectedly) divided: as lines are drawn, long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the apparent calm of the village.

And then Anthony Bowness - cousin to Bernard de Floures, patron of Champton - is found dead at the back of the church, stabbed in the neck with a pair of secateurs.

As the police moves in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together... and catch a killer."

3. The Aspern Papers by Henry James (1888).

"Arguably the most popular and critically successful of James longer works, The Aspern Papers tells the story of a poetry enthusiast and aspiring biographer driven to desperate lengths to procure the last letters of a recently passed American poet, Jeffrey Aspern. Reflecting many of James own reservations about publicity and biographical exploitation, The Aspern Papers remains a powerful defense of the dignity and privacy that should be afforded all authors in life and in death."

4. Flight Volume 1 by Kazu Kibuishi (2004).

"Flight Volume One features stories by professionals and non-professionals alike, all playing on the theme of flight in its many incarnations. From the maiden voyage of a home-built plane to the adventures of a young courier and his flying whale to a handful of stories about coming of age and letting things go, this first volume of Flight is full of memorable tales that will both amaze and inspire."

There you go. Hoping you see some books that interest you or pique your imagination. Stay warm!

As the Month Winds Down...

This will probably be a quick update; the normal stuff - books read, books started and any new books. (I've actually been pretty darn good lately about that... although I'm picking up one new one when I go out today.. Don't tell Jo)

So...

Completed since last update

(3 completed, one that I gave up reading)

1. The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass (Body Farm #5 / 2010). 

"This year I've been trying to catch up on some series that I've neglected for the past few years. A case in point is the Body Farm forensic series. The Bone Thief by a duo who write under their combined names as Jefferson Bass is the 5th book in the series. I've had it on my bookshelf since 2013 (definitely a dusty book, eh) and it's been since 2016 that I read number 4! Now this neglect isn't because I didn't enjoy the series, it's more that I keep picking up new series and forgetting about the older ones. 

But, of course, I digress. As always when I pick up one of my neglected series, it was so very easy to get back into the flow of the Body Farm books. Dr. Bill Brockton heads up the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Dept and part of that job is running the Bone Yard, an area set aside where donated bodies are laid in various soils, environments, etc. so that Ben and his team can learn about how the decompose. His main assistant is Miranda Lovelady, a PhD student. Brockton also uses the corpses as part of his curriculum on forensic science. He also, and this is the crux of the books, assists police in investigating murders by providing his expertise in identifying bodies, etc.

There is carry - over from the last book in this story. Brockton helped in a case that had carry-overs to WWII and the Oak Ridge institutes studies on nuclear radiation in the construction of the atom bombs that were used on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Brockton had a relationship with a Japanese / American woman who turned out to be the murderer. She used radioactive materiel in her murder and it caused damage to the hands of Brockton's friend, the universities coroner. Touching the material, when conducting an autopsy, his hands were severely burned and almost killing him. The plight to try and save Dr. Garcia's hands is an ongoing thread in this story. As is the fact that it seems that Bill Brockton, when having sex with Isabel, got her pregnant, something he's also trying to deal with.

But the main stories here are two fold. Bill is assisting a local lawyer in the exhumation of a body to help in a paternity suit. Oddly enough the body seems to be missing its arms and legs. This starts an another investigation into the practices of the funeral home that embalmed the body; with more parts missing and an extra dead body is discovered in ensuing exhumations... Enough yet?? Well.....

Bill is having an ongoing battle with the university administration over his budget shortfalls and especially trying to get enough money to keep Miranda on his staff. A possible outside source of funding might be a company that specializes in artificial limbs, who are interested in using Bill's work on bodies and bones to give them some insight into their work.. Enough yet?? Well.....

The FBI approach Bill to help them with an investigation into a Tissue company who they believe is obtaining body parts illegally. They want Bill to help them prove it as part of a sting operation. 

So,  as you can see, there is a lot going on. But Bass is an excellent story - teller and he intertwines all of these threads quite nicely to make a rich, entertaining mystery novel. Bill Brockton is a great character and I have always liked his independent, mouthy assistant Miranda. The concepts being discussed on organ transplants, and especially hand transplants make an additional item of interest. All in all, I'm glad that I got back into the series. It's easy to forget sometimes how much you enjoy reading until you delve back into your bookshelf a bit more deeply. (4.0 stars)"

2. The White Russian by Tom Bradby (2002). This the book I gave up on.

"I will not be providing a rating for The White Russian by Tom Bradby as it has been added to my DNF file unfortunately. I can't say it was badly written or not interesting, a mystery set during 1917 in St Petersburg. I can only say that I just found it too easy to put down. Maybe if I'd read it when I first got it, I would have finished it off.

It's an interesting setting and time period and if I were you, I wouldn't go by this Non rating. Check it out and judge for yourself. Back when I first bought this, 2016, I also bought Bradby's Master of the Rain and quite enjoyed. I should have read this then. Anyway, you don't want to hear my rationalizations for not reading it. Just check for yourself if you like historical mysteries. (DNF) (NR)"

3. Warriors Graphic Novel, Volume 2 by Erin Hunter (2025).

"Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #2 by Erin Hunter is the 2nd volume of Hunter's Warriors series. It's the story of groups of wild cats living in Clans in the forest. There are 4 clans, the featured Thunder Clan and 3 others, Wind Clan, River Clan and Shadow Clan. Volume 2 focuses more on Thunder Clan and River Clan.

The 4 clans live in uneasy peace but there are ongoing threats from rogue cats and an ex-leader, who try to destroy Thunder Clan. Also there is a threat within Thunder Clan itself, where the deputy chief, Thunder Claw, wants to take over the Clan from Blue Star. The main character, Fire Heart, a cat who came to Thunder Clan from being a house cat, knows about Thunder Claw but isn't trusted enough yet to be believed.

The volume features a number of different stories. We have Blue Stars disagreements with the other clan leaders, especially when she protects Broken Star, a traitor to the clans. She has her reasons. There is Gray Stripe, Fire Heart's best friend, who is involved in a Romeo / Juliet type relationship with a River Clan cat,  which is against Clan rules. Fire Star meets his sister Princess, who still lives with humans, and takes his nephew under his wing, to teach him to be a warrior in the Clan. There is the threat from Thunder Claw.. There is a forest fire to threaten Thunder Clan's home. 

All in all, there is a lot going on. At times I do have difficulty telling one cat from another, but as you get into the story, they begin to come together and it doesn't affect the gist of the overall story. It's a great adventure, lots of intrigue, friendship, great artwork and just an entertaining story. Volume 3 is supposed to be out in the fall 2025. I look forward to reading it. (3.5 stars)"

4. Gideon's Power by J.J. Marric (Gideon #15 / 1969).

"Of all the mystery / spy / thriller series written by English author, J.J. Marric (John Creasey), who wrote under many pseudonyms, such as The Baron series, the Toff, Dr. Palfrey, Inspector West, etc., so far, the Commander Gideon police procedural series is by far my favorite. Gideon's Power is the 15th book in the series, which consists of 22 books, so I've still got a few left to read.

As per normal, Commander Gideon is dealing with a number of ongoing cases in Gideon's Power. The Power in the title refers to power outages that have been occurring throughout London. Are they sabotage or accidents? As well, a number of manufacturing businesses have been targeted with fire bombs. One of his Superintendents is investigating a child's murder and rape and another young girl goes missing in another district. Is it the same perpetrator? Hmmm... Gideon's 2nd in command is on vacation in Scotland and his temporary replacement isn't working to Gideon's satisfaction. A new lady has appeared in the secretarial pool and has somewhat distracted Gideon. 

So lots going on and Gideon handles it all with his normal aplomb, grumpy and taciturn but just an excellent police officer. And the team at his disposal, even though some can be difficult at times, especially Inspector Lemaitre who is investigating the bombing at a furniture manufacturer. But Gideon doesn't want yes men. He wants smart, dedicated, hard working men and that's the type of personalities he engenders with his own work ethic and with his straight - forward way of going about things.

It's all very interesting, nicely complex, neatly resolved (for the most part) and all in all, an entertaining story from beginning to end. It has definitely become one of my favorite series and I always enjoy coming back to it. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Broken by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #4 / 2010).

"When Special Agent Will Trent arrives in Grant County, he finds a police department determined to protect its own. Officer Lena Adams is hiding secrets from him, and while her role in the death of the county’s popular police chief is unclear, that man’s widow, Dr. Sara Linton, desperately needs Trent’s help to crack the case of a prisoner’s death. While the police force investigates the murder of a young woman pulled from a frigid lake, Trent investigates the police force. Caught between two complicated and determined women, trying to understand the facts surrounding Chief Tolliver’s death, Trent will uncover explosive secrets—and confront a thin blue line that could be murderous if crossed."

2. The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed (2024).

"A world-weary woman races against the clock to rescue the children of a wrathful tyrant from a dangerous, otherworldly forest.

At the northern edge of a land ruled by a monstrous, foreign tyrant lies the wild forest known as the Elmever. The villagers know better than to let their children go near—once someone goes in, they never come back out.

No one knows the strange and terrifying traps of the Elmever better than Veris Thorn, the only person to ever rescue a child from the forest many years ago. When the Tyrant’s two young children go missing, Veris is commanded to enter the forest once more and bring them home safe. If Veris fails, the Tyrant will kill her; if she remains in the forest for longer than a day, she will be trapped forevermore.

So Veris will travel deep into the Elmever to face traps, riddles, and monsters at the behest of another monster. One misstep will cost everything."

3. Photo Finish by Ngaio Marsh (Inspector Roderick Alleyn #31 / 1980).

"MURDER IN HIGH C...

A persistent paparazzo has hounded operatic soprano Isabella Sommita until her nerves are at the breaking point. Now her millionaire boyfriend has whisked her to a New Zealand island to recover. There she plans a performance of an aria written just for her-- by her secret young lover, who, along with a bevy of envious celebrities, is also on the island. It's the perfect set-up for grand opera-- wild passions...and bloody murder. And when the great singer is found dead, a photo on her bosom, Superintendent Roderick Alleyn must find out who did the diva in..."

New Books

Well, I did say I've been pretty good. No new books to report about at this time. 

Get a move on old man!

Now I've got a puppy looking at me very intently telling me to get off my butt and take him for a walk.. See you soon and read a great book.

Nothing of Import today...

Nothing really new to report this morning. Had a reasonable run as it wasn't raining. Read a bit of A Darker Domain by Val McDermid as well, making good progress on it. I do have one new book, a middle grade graphic, novel to report on. And then I'll continue with a theme I've been working on for a couple of years, off and on, that being my look at women authors whose work I've been enjoying. I'm getting to the end of that so will have to explore another one, eh?

New Book(s)

1. All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson (2017). I've enjoyed a couple of other Victoria Jamieson graphics; Roller Girl and When Stars are Scattered so thought I would give this story a chance.

"Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she's eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she'll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind--she'll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it's not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don't) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family's unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. Impy has always thought of herself as a heroic knight, but when she does something really mean in order to fit in, she begins to wonder whether she might be more of a dragon after all." You can check out her website at this link.

Now, on to my other topic.

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Jacqueline Winspear

Jacqueline Winspear

To be fair, I've only read the first two books in Winspear's Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series but I enjoyed them both very much and have the next few awaiting my attention. Winspear was born in 1955, as was I, so maybe we're kindred spirits??? Who knows. Her first Maisie Dobbs book came out in 2003 and since then, she's written 18 in that series plus two standalones. As I mentioned, I've read the first two books and have another 4 in the series plus one of her standalones. Let's look at the five I've got to read to give you a feel for her stories.

1. Pardonable Lies (Maisie Dobbs #3 / 2005).

"In the third novel of this bestselling series, London investigator Maisie Dobbs faces grave danger as she returns to the site of her most painful WWI memories to resolve the mystery of a pilot's death.

A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her not only to the edge of madness but to the doors of those who practice the dark arts and commune with the spirit world.

In accepting the assignment, Maisie finds her spiritual strength tested, as well as her regard for her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The mission also brings her together once again with her college friend Priscilla Evernden, who served in France and who lost three brothers to the war — one of whom, it turns out, had an intriguing connection to the missing Ralph Lawton."

2. Leaving Everything Most Loved (#10 / 2013).

"The year is 1933. Maisie Dobbs is contacted by an Indian gentleman who has come to England in the hopes of finding out who killed his sister two months ago. Scotland Yard failed to make any arrest in the case, and there is reason to believe they failed to conduct a thorough investigation. The case becomes even more challenging when another Indian woman is murdered just hours before a scheduled interview. Meanwhile, unfinished business from a previous case becomes a distraction, as does a new development in Maisie's personal life."

3. A Dangerous Place (#11 / 2015).

"Spring 1937. In the four years since she left England, Maisie Dobbs has experienced love, contentment, stability—and the deepest tragedy a woman can endure. Now, all she wants is the peace she believes she might find by returning to India. But her sojourn in the hills of Darjeeling is cut short when her stepmother summons her home to England; her aging father Frankie Dobbs is not getting any younger.

But on a ship bound for England, Maisie realizes she isn’t ready to return. Against the wishes of the captain who warns her, “You will be alone in a most dangerous place,” she disembarks in Gibraltar. Though she is on her own, Maisie is far from alone: the British garrison town is teeming with refugees fleeing a brutal civil war across the border in Spain.

Yet the danger is very real. Days after Maisie’s arrival, a photographer and member of Gibraltar’s Sephardic Jewish community, Sebastian Babayoff, is murdered, and Maisie becomes entangled in the case, drawing the attention of the British Secret Service. Under the suspicious eye of a British agent, Maisie is pulled deeper into political intrigue on “the Rock”—arguably Britain’s most important strategic territory—and renews an uneasy acquaintance in the process. At a crossroads between her past and her future, Maisie must choose a direction, knowing that England is, for her, an equally dangerous place, but in quite a different way."

4. The American Agent (#15 / 2019).

"When Catherine Saxon, an American correspondent reporting on the war in Europe, is found murdered in her London digs, news of her death is concealed by British authorities. Serving as a linchpin between Scotland Yard and the Secret Service, Robert MacFarlane pays a visit to Maisie Dobbs, seeking her help. He is accompanied by an agent from the US Department of Justice—Mark Scott, the American who helped Maisie get out of Hitler’s Munich in 1938. MacFarlane asks Maisie to work with Scott to uncover the truth about Saxon’s death.

As the Germans unleash the full terror of their blitzkrieg upon the British Isles, raining death and destruction from the skies, Maisie must balance the demands of solving this dangerous case with her need to protect Anna, the young evacuee she has grown to love and wants to adopt. Entangled in an investigation linked to the power of wartime propaganda and American political intrigue being played out in Britain, Maisie will face losing her dearest friend—and the possibility that she might be falling in love again."

5. The White Lady (2023).

"This heart-stopping novel, set in Post WWII Britain in 1947, follows the coming of age and maturity of former wartime operative Elinor White—veteran of two wars, trained killer, protective of her anonymity—when she is drawn back into the world of menace she has been desperate to leave behind. A reluctant ex-spy with demons of her own, Elinor finds herself facing down one of the most dangerous organized crime gangs in London, ultimately exposing corruption from Scotland Yard to the highest levels of government. The private, quiet “Miss White" as Elinor is known, lives in a village in rural Kent, England, and to her fellow villagers seems something of an enigma. Well she might, as Elinor occupies a "grace and favor" property, a rare privilege offered to faithful servants of the Crown for services to the nation. But the residents of Shacklehurst have no way of knowing how dangerous Elinor's war work had been, or that their mysterious neighbor is haunted by her past. It will take Susie, the child of a young farmworker, Jim Mackie and his wife, Rose, to break through Miss White's icy demeanor—but Jim has something in common with Elinor. He, too, is desperate to escape his past. When the powerful Mackie crime family demands a return of their prodigal son for an important job, Elinor assumes the task of protecting her neighbors, especially the bright-eyed Susie. Yet in her quest to uncover the truth behind the family’s pursuit of Jim, Elinor unwittingly sets out on a treacherous path — yet it is one that leads to her freedom."

There you go. Sound interesting to you? I rated both of the 1st two novels as 4-star reads, with the 2nd even better than the first. Maisie is a unique character. All of Winspear's books are listed here. If you want to check out her own website go to this link.

So there you go. I hope your 2025 is off to a great start.

An End - November (Almost) Reading Update

t's been an interesting week. A bit of a 'weather bomb' hit the West Coast this week. Lots of trees down, heavy rain, some areas with power outages. We got high winds and lots of rain here in the Valley but at least in our little area the power stayed on. Clyde wasn't very impressed. His walks basically consisted of us opening the back door and sticking him out on the deck so he could wander around the back yard for a few minutes. It was ok yesterday but it's raining quite heavily at the moment. Yuchh. Mount Washington must be happy though. They received 100 centimeters of snow over the past few day. If you click on this link, you can check out their webcams to see how it looks up there.

Moving on from the Canadian tradition of starting off any conversation by talking about the weather, let's move on to my normal reading / new book update.

Just Finished

(I've finished 3 graphic novels since my last update. I'm making steady progress on some of the books I've also working on. More on those next update)

1. Lore Olympus, Vol. Six by Rachel Smythe (2024). I really enjoy this series.

"Lore Olympus: Volume Six, the latest instalment of the Olympus graphic novel series by Rachel  Smythe just keeps moving this series along at a wonderful pace. It took me a little bit to get back into the flow but once I did, I enjoyed so much. So much!

Persephone, goddess of Spring, has caused some destruction in the mortal realm after some tricks by Minthe really, really upset her. Zeus has decided to make an example of her and puts out an arrest warrant for Persephone and also for her mother, Demeter. Hades finds Persephone, basically comatose and brings her to the Underworld realm to heal and protect her. His capable assistant and my favorite character, Hecate, provides assistance. 

While Persephone recovers and the ongoing relationship between her and Hades continues to grow, we get to see more about the other gods. Hera, frustrated and angry at her hubby, Zeus, tries to get to the bottom of what happened between Persephone and Apollo (If you haven't read the earlier books, I won't ruin that for you). She goes to meet Hades and Persephone and promises Persephone that she will help her in any way she can. 

Minthe, still jealous and angry at being set aside by Hades for Persephone, still wants answers from Hades! Will she go to the Underworld to demand these answers? The story jumps into the past to when Minthe first meets Hades. There are other trips into the past, as Persephone tells about her childhood to Hades and he also talks about how Kronos swallowed him and his brother Poseidon and how Zeus saved him. Fascinating stuff.

It's a rich, entertaining, engrossing story that just keeps getting better. The modernization of the gods is really handled so well. I particularly loved the Zoom call between Zeus and the other Olympians as he tries to demand that Persephone be given up for trial. It's so neat. The story, the drawing, the artwork, the coloring is all handled so very well. Once you get going, it's difficult to put down. You will want to read until the end. I just got my copy of Volume 7... How long will I resist it? (4.5 stars)"

2. The Sandman, Vol. 9 - The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman (1995). I've hesitated to continue reading this series. (Comment in my review).

"I have to say that the Sandman graphic novel series by Neil Gaiman has been a favorite of mine since I started reading it. 

(Ed note. I have hesitated to continue with and finish this series after reading about sexual assault allegations against Gaiman. I have decided to finish the series but will look at any other books I have by him and whether I will continue. You can decide for yourself whether you want to read the review or read any of his work. I'll just say that he hasn't been taken to court as far as I can tell, but it still does cloud my enjoyment of the story.)

Anyway, I still gave The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones a 4-star rating because it's a darn good tale. In this story we get to meet pretty well all of the people who have peopled the earlier stories. My favorites are Rose, who goes to England to see what her dead grandmother has left for her in the old estate; Matthew, the raven, Sandman's regular companion; & Sandman's sister, Death. She doesn't make a big enough appearance but she's still great.

Lots going on in this story. Sandman / Dreams is trying to settle his affair throughout this story. He's created a new Corinthian (a murderous killer in a previous book), but a better man this time. He wants Corinthian and Matthew to find Daniel. Daniel is the son of Lyta (aka Hippolyta) who was kidnapped from his bed. Lyta thinks Sandman has kidnapped him and she is searching for the Furies (although they prefer to be called The kindly Ones) This trip takes her to various realms but when she finds them, she demands revenge against Dreams. 

What else??? Nuala, a fairy princess who had been given to Dreams many stories ago and works as his maid (sort of) is given back to the land of faerie as the request of the faerie queen. Nuala doesn't really want to go and she will try to return when she finds that Dreams is in danger... 

OK??? Dreams other sister Delirium is searching for her doggie (she is a strange one) and she also realizes Dreams is in danger and wants him to accompany her... which he doesn't.. Oh Death, or Satan or whatever, who had left Hell to live as a night club pianist, is having second thoughts about it. He shows up periodically.

The Kindly Ones will eventually attack Dream's lands and begin killing off his associates. Various other evil critters; Loki, Pan, etc will make appearances and what are they doing?

There is so much going on but it's all so fascinating so well drawn and so interesting. Is it resolved in the end? Some things are but there is still Vol 10, The Wake, sitting on my shelf to finish the series, which I will do. (4.0 stars)"

3. Monstress, Volume 4 - The Chosen by Rachel Liu & Sana Takeda (2019). There are so many excellent graphic novels to read. I've enjoyed focusing on them in November.

"I readily admit that lots of the time I don't know what is going on in the Monstress graphic novel series by Marjorie M. Liu. It's a wild ride. So many interesting characters, the story moves between them in the blink of an eye. In between chapters, the noted cat professor, Tam Tam, tries to educate us about the Known World and its history and people so that's definitely helped. Monstress, Volume 4: The Chosen continues this excellent, exciting story.

The main characters, Maika Half-Wolf, Kippa the little Fox and Ren the wizard cat are all separated, each trying to survive the catastrophe of the 3rd book. Maika is now with her father (she doesn't want to be) and the god that is inside her, Zinn, isn't responding. Kippa is a prisoner, sort of, of a group trying to bring her to the Doctor (another name for Maika's daddy) but she escapes ... sort of.. LOL. As Kippa is growing up she seems to be developing her own powers. What are they? Darned  if I know... well, not exactly. Ren betrayed Maika and Kippa in the last book but is now trying to redeem himself. 

And of course, there are all of the other story lines. Maika's daddy has gathered the great human war lords together and plans to war against the Arcanics, the Dawn & Dusk courts. The Arcanics have joined together with the marriage of the two Queens (or maybe princesses). But even there, you find friction. So that is sort of the gist of this story. Maika trying to deal with her father and still seeing 'visions' of her mother, Moriko Half-Wolf, Kippa trying to get to Maika and what about Ren? Well, that's the wild ride you'll have to follow with this story.

Beautifully drawn and colored Sana Takeda and wonderfully told by Marjorie Liu, it's a fascinating fantasy story. Every book (this one covers issues 19 - 24) draws you in and keeps you turning pages to see what will happen next. I loved it and can't wait for Vol. 5 - Warchild to see where their journey will take them next. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Tank Girl Three by Jamie Hewlett & Alan C. Martin (2009). (My fun series.)

"Concerned parents everywhere - rejoice! Tank Girl's back and she's madder than ever! Join our bullet-spraying, bloke-spaying heroine as she yet again wreaks havoc on an unsuspecting world, with a titanic battle against evil bounty hunters, a fascinating odyssey through the culinary world, the astonishing, all-true story of popular beat combo The Smiths, the lovely Jet Girl, the unlovely Booga, and more dead nasties than you can shake some sick at! Complete with unseen material from artist Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz) and writer Alan Martin, it's another action-packed, outrageous adventure! Warning: Adults only!"

2. George Orwell's 1984, The Graphic Novel by Fido Nesti (2021). It's been years since I read the novel. It seemed appropriate to read it again.

"In 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called the Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.

With evocative, immersive art from Fido Nesti, this vision of George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece provides a new perspective for longtime fans but is also an accessible entry point for young readers and adults who have yet to discover the iconic story that is still so relevant today."

New Books

(3 new graphic novels and one book)

1. Lore Olympus, Vol. 7 by Rachel Smythe (2024). So I finish Vol 6 and then next day I wander through my local book store and there was the next volume..

"Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—the Greek tale of Hades and Persephone gets a romantic modern update in the gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning Lore Olympus, including a brand new bonus short story!

An ingenious take on the Greek Pantheon, Lore Olympus is a modern update on the story of Hades and Persephone. Follow the propulsive love story of two Greek gods, told with lavish artwork and contemporary sensibilities.

This full-color edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award-winning webcomic Lore Olympus features exclusive behind-the-scenes content and brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 153-179 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus."

2. Best Canadian Stories 2025 by Steven W. Beattie (2024). I have enjoyed these collections before.

"Selected by editor Steven W. Beattie, the 2025 edition of Best Canadian Stories showcases the best Canadian fiction writing published in 2023.

Chris Bailey • Christine Birbalsingh • Cody Caetano • Kate Cayley • Lynn Coady • Caitlin Galway • Marcel Goh • Beth Goobie • Mark Anthony Jarman • Saad Omar Khan • Chelsea Peters • Kawai Shen • Liz Stewart • Glenna Turnbull • Catriona Wright • Clea Young"

3. Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi (2023). This looked like something I should read.

"An urgent, groundbreaking and visually stunning new collection of graphic story-telling about the present Iranian revolution, using comics to show what would be censored in photos and film in Iran.

Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis , returns to graphic art with this collaboration of over 20 activists, artists, journalists, and academics working together to depict the historic uprising, in solidarity with the Iranian people and in defense of feminism.

On September 13th 2022, a young Iranian student, Mahsa Amini, was arrested by the religious police in Tehran. Her only crime was that she wasn’t properly wearing the headscarf required for women by the Islamic Republic. At the police station, she was beaten so badly she had to be taken to the hospital, where she fell into a deep coma. She died three days later.

A wave of protests soon spread through the whole country, and crowds adopted the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”—words that have been chanted around the world during solidarity rallies.

In order to tell the story of this major revolution happening in her homeland, Marjane Satrapi has gathered together an array of journalists, activists, academics, artists, and writers from around the world to create this powerful collection of full-color, graphic-novel-style essays and perspectives that bear

Woman, Life, Freedom demonstrates that this is not an unexpected movement, but a major uprising in a long history of women who have wanted to affirm their rights. It will continue."

4. Something is Killing the Children, Vol 1 by James Tynion IV (2020).

"When children begin to go missing in the town of Archer’s Peak, all hope seems lost until a mysterious woman arrives to reveal that terrifying creatures are behind the chaos - and that she alone will destroy them, no matter the cost.

IT’S THE MONSTERS WHO SHOULD BE AFRAID.

When the children of Archer's Peak—a sleepy town in the heart of America—begin to go missing, everything seems hopeless. Most children never return, but the ones that do have terrible stories—impossible details of terrifying creatures that live in the shadows. Their only hope of finding and eliminating the threat is the arrival of a mysterious stranger, one who believes the children and claims to be the only one who sees what they can see.

Her name is Erica Slaughter. She kills monsters. That is all she does, and she bears the cost because it must be done."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Enjoyed - Jenny White

Jenny White

I kind of discovered Jenny White by accident a few years back. There wasn't a lot of information on her except that she wrote a trilogy featuring Turkish police officer Kamil Pasha. The first book was so good and it took me awhile to find the others. As far as I can tell, they were the only books she has written. Do more!

1. The Sultan's Seal (#1 / 2006).

"I found some of the story arcs in this book confusing at times as I wasn't sure if we were in the present in the past. But I still enjoyed the story very much. I liked the era the story was told in, the late 1800's in Ottoman Turkey, the characters, especially Kamil Pasha, who is called upon to solve the murder of an English woman, and Sybil, the English ambassador's daughter, who helps Kamil with his investigation. I also liked the potential relationship, the physical tension that seemed to be developing between the two. There is so much going on, the intricacies of the Ottoman culture, the Young Turks trying to instill a European style parliament, and the mystery itself and its possible tie-in with a previous murder. Very enjoyable first book by Jenny White. I'll be looking for the other books in the series. (4 stars)"

2. The Abyssinian Proof (#2 / 2007).

"It's been a few years since I read the first book in Jenny White's Kamil Pasha historical mystery series; that being The Sultan's Seal. My standard excuse, too many books, not enough time... Also, I have to say, I've only seen her books online, not at my locals, anyway. 

OK, enough of that... 

The Abyssinian Proof, the 2nd book, was also an excellent story. It's set in an exotic locale, Istanbul during the dying days of the mighty Ottoman Empire. The story starts in 1453 to introduce the holy item, called The Proof of God, that becomes the prime mover of the current story. 

Kamil Pasha is a police inspector in Istanbul and he is tasked to solve a spate of thefts of historical, religious artifacts. His superior leads him to believe that his failure to do this might result in a negative impact to Pasha's career. Thrown into the mix of this story are a number of wonderful characters; the homeless boy, Avi, who becomes a useful assistant to Pasha, Elif, the troubled artist, who escaped Macedonia after the murders of her husband and son, and Omar, a police captain who provides humour and a crusty pragmatism as he assists Pasha in his investigations. There are other interesting developments that also make the story rich and fascinating (the community who live in the Sunken Village, and who the stolen Proof is so important to their religious life).

The story is almost to rich to describe in a few words. Istanbul is such an interesting city, peopled with a diverse culture, and with such a great history. The characters are all well-written and sympathetic and the mystery, itself, is unique and interesting. The story moves along at a nice pace and holds your interest. I developed strong feelings for many of the characters and felt happy and sad and angry as they did. It's an excellent story with neat religious aspects to it; such as those explored in other books, like Dan Brown's recent series. You can enjoy this without reading the first book, but you should work your way through the stories as each are excellent. Unfortunately only one more book in this series (so far anyway) and I'll have to get a copy of The Winter Thief. (4 stars)"

3. The Winter Thief (#3 / 2010).

"The Winter Thief by Jenny White is the third and so-far, the last book in her historical mystery series featuring Turkish Special Prosecutor Kamil Pasha. I do hope that at some point, she decides to continue the series but this third book was published in 2010 so it's not looking good.

This book is a rich. exciting mystery and historical adventure. It starts off with the robbery of the Imperial Ottoman Bank of a haul of gold and gems by purported Armenian nationalists. At the end of the robbery, there is an explosion that also destroys a near-by café, causing a major fire. It seems that Kamil's brother-in-law, Huseyin, may have been hurt severely by the fire as he meets in the café with another woman.

The investigation conducted by Kamil, at the direction of the Minister of Justice, Nisam Pasha, will lead him into conflict with the head of the secret police, Vahid, a terrifying, evil man. This conflict will endanger, Kamil, his sister, Feride and his friend, Elif, and all of his close friends and acquaintances.. Besides himself of course.

The investigation will ultimately lead him to a conflict in Eastern Turkey, where a group of idealistic Socialists are trying to form a Utopian community (with the help of arms bought in America and also the stolen gold.. but let's not think on that too much). That is the gist of this fantastic story.

The story, itself, will move from character to character; Kamil, Vahid, Armenian woman Vera, held and tortured by the secret police, Feride (searching for her missing husband), Omar, Kamil's friend and police chief, and so many others. There is intrigue, danger, love and so much more. It's a fascinating story, offering a historic perspective of the time and a great picture of such an exotic country as it struggles with the past and the future. There is a constant menace from the secret police, especially Vahid, who will give you the creeps. Great story and excellent, satisfying conclusion, leaving a teaser of future stories. I definitely hope there will be more. (5 stars)"

If you wish to read more about Jenny White there is some information at this link.