A Weekend Reading Update

I've got the Blue Jays game on in the background and Jo is upstairs trying to create a Facebook post. The puppies are sprawled around the house, Clyde with me and Bonnie is probably lying on the half landing keeping an eye on the neighborhood. It's a bright sunny day outside and I am getting impatient to be able to start running again. But, as Jo rightly points out, it's been one week since my hernia(s) op and it takes time to heal. I do still have a fair bit of pain, so I know she's right. *sigh*

OK. Since my last reading update, I've 'completed' 4 books, 3 that I finished, reviewed and rated, one that I finally gave up on. I'll provide my reviews /  comments on them as well as the synopses of the books I've started since. I'll also provide the synopses of two new books on my shelves; one by a favorite mystery writer of mine and one by a new author for me.

Just Finished

1. Billy Boyle by James R. Benn (Billy Boyle #1). A new series for me set during WWII.

"Billy Boyle: A World War II Mystery is the first book in the, yes you guessed it, the Billy Boyle WWII spy / mystery series by American author James R. Benn. Since 2006, Benn has written 17 books in the series, with the 17th out in 2022. So I think I have a bit of catching up to do on the series.

Lt. Billy Boyle, new of the US Army, was a Boston cop who was drafted into the US Army. His family being worried about his being sent into action asks their cousin, who happens to be one Gen Eisenhower, if he can take him onto his staff. (Of course they don't realize that Dwight has just taken command of the European front.

Boyle finds himself working in Eisenhower's office, immediately tasked with finding a spy in the Norwegian military. The Allies are planning Operation Jupiter, a commando invasion of Norwegians, British and American commandos of Norway. Boyle is sent off to their training encampment in Eastern England, along with a Polish officer, Kaz, and a British officer, Daphne to try to find the spy. While there a Norwegian is found dead, at first a presumed suicide, but later believed to be a murder.

So the story begins and the investigation progresses, with Boyle, Kaz and Daphne interrogating, searching and trying to find out who murdered the Norwegian officer and who might be the spy. Ultimately the investigation will take Boyle to Norway itself under great danger.

The story is enjoyable and moves along very nicely. Boyle and his team are all very likable people and they draw you in very successfully. I found the first half of the story reminded me in some ways of Rennie Airth's John Madden wartime mystery series, although I thought it was a bit light-weight. But Benn is surprising. Suddenly at one point he turns into George R.R. Martin (you figure out what I mean) and grabs you by the shoulders and slaps you in the face, laughing all the time. The tone of the second half is quite different from the first and the ending, while a bit twisty / turny is very satisfying. It leaves you wanting to continue on with the series. Which is a good thing, right? Satisfying, entertaining intro to what I hope will continue to be an excellent series. (3.5 stars)"

2. Terminal Café by Ian McDonald (1994). This was my second Did Not Finish (DNF) in April. I desperately wanted to read the whole book. I hate giving up on them but it was just too weird or unintelligible for me. I'm sure others have found it excellent. Sorry.

"Terminal Café by Ian McDonald is my first exposure to his Sci-Fi stories. Maybe it shouldn't have been the first one that I tried... It was published in the UK under the title, Necroville|. (Ed Note: I did not finish, basically completing 200 pages so will not provide a rating and just a few thoughts)

Here's the scenario as I got it..... 5 friends head to the Terminal Café, 4 of them invited by Santiago Columbar, on the eve of Day of the Dead. On the way they will be involved in countless adventures and look at their lives??? 

Everything and the kitchen sink takes place. You've got nano-technology, an invasion of Earth by zombies? that have been sent to populate and industrialize outer space. They battle living humans, aka Meat. One character is a lawyer and is fighting a case and for her life... well, they are all fighting for their lives, it seems... Drugs.. um... Pale Riders... 

It's all a bit too much for me to follow and gradually, despite my best efforts, I have just given up. Philip K. Dick on really, really good drugs... I like strange stories but I do like there to be some sense to them. And this really didn't make any sense to me, whatsoever. I'm sure there are others who loved the story and could explain it to me, but I give up... 

McDonald has written many Sci-Fi novels, including a Desolation Road trilogy set on Mars.. Maybe someday I'll try it, but not for awhile.. (No Rating)"

3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Kingkiller Chronicles #1). A new fantasy author for me.

"I've had The Name of the Wind, the 1st book in the Kingkiller Chronicle, by Patrick Rothfuss sitting on my bookshelf since 2015. I've avoided trying it because of it's size. It's a tome for sure, 722 pages of fighting fury. And, now, having finally read it, I'm glad that I did.

What is the story about? Hmmm. Basically it's a fantasy. A Chronicler arrives at the Waystone Inn in a small community in the hinterland. He's been robbed. He knows that the innkeeper isn't quite who he claims to be and wants to chronicle his (Kvothe's) life. Kvothe agrees and the story of his life begins. That's the story, and we travel with Kvothe as he follows his family of minstrels around the land and then onward to life in the port town Tarbean where he struggles just to survive and then onto his teen years at the University at Imre, where he wishes to become an arcanist. There you go, that's the story. Interest you?

It doesn't seem like much, does it? But the story has flow, interesting characters and just successfully draws you in to this wonderful world. Kvothe suffers many tragedies on his way to university and I'll let you discover those for yourself. The world through which he travels is well-described and easy to picture. The characters are sympathetically portrayed and there are so many to like and care for. The story -telling takes place over the course of a few evenings (or maybe just one) but the story itself takes years to cover. And as far as I can tell, it's only scratched the bare surface, just Kvothe's earliest development. You can see he is a boy with power potential and it'll be so interesting to delve into the 2nd tome to see where the story goes next. 

But read this. Don't be intimidated, just be prepared to enjoy a fascinating, rich story. (4 stars)"

4. The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov (1955). I've always enjoyed his Sci-Fi and mystery stories.

"Over the years I've enjoyed many of the novels of Isaac Asimov. Most recently I have been reading his Mysteries featuring the Black Widowers. I found The End of Eternity, one of his earliest stories (published in 1955) in a used book store down island from where I live and decided to give it a try.

I readily admit I almost gave up on it. I found the writing very basic and the story kind of overwrought and, at first, kind of unintelligible. But it was a fairly short story so I decided to stick with it and ultimately, ended up enjoying it. (Is that what you call 'faint praise'?)

So let's see. Harlan is a Technician who works for Eternity. What's Eternity? It's a kind of alternate reality that runs parallel to normal time. Time travel seems to have been discovered after the 23rd Century and this parallel time was created to monitor activity throughout 'time' and make the necessary changes to keep each century 'safe and secure'. Sort of, anyway.

Harlan is assigned a task in the 482nd Century in order to gauge what sort of Reality Change is necessary. While there he falls in love with Noys and is determined to ensure that the Reality Change doesn't affect her in anyway, even to the point of spiriting her off to the 100+ Century (where there seems to be nobody)

In its way it's a fascinating story, an interesting look at time travel. I did find this a bit over the top for the first 1/3 to 1/2 but as I got into it, I started enjoying the story and how many complexities there were. There were a number of enjoyable surprises as it started to wind down, turning it into a kind of nice mystery as well. By no means is this a perfect story. I found the writing pretty basic and the character development weak but the ideas and the ultimate story ended up grabbing my attention and I was very satisfied with the ending. For its relative shortness, it's worth trying this early work by Asimov, to see where his future stories and ideas were born. (3 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (Shades of Magic #1). A new author for me. Saw the book at one of my local used book stores and it sounded interesting.

"Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive."

2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows #1). I've been seeing her books for awhile now and thought I should see what she's like as a story-teller.

"Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity—and the adventure—of a lifetime."

3. Stowaway to Mars by John Wyndham (1935). I read a number of Wyndham's Sci-Fi novels back in high school and have been rereading those and also exploring his earlier works.

"The Earth was holding a fantastic contest...

An international prize of over a million dollars was being offered to the first man to complete an interplanetary journey. Target -- Mars.

It was a race against time. The U.S., Russia, and England were again competitors, fighting for fame an fortune.

Dale Curtance of England didn't need the fortune. He was a millionaire. He was an eccentric. But most of all he was an adventurer and he was determined to win.

But winning was not going to be that easy. There were going to be many surprises. And they all began with the stowaway aboard Curtance's ship.

A stowaway to Mars."

4. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016). I kept talking myself out of trying anything by Crouch but I finally decided that I want to see what his writing is like. Enjoying so far.

""Are you happy with your life?"

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason's never met smiles down at him and says, "Welcome back, my friend."

In this world he's woken up to, Jason's life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that's the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could've imagined--one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe."

New Books

I find myself reading quite a bit of Sci-Fi and Fantasy at the moment but purchasing mysteries and non-fiction. Go figure. It's all cyclical I think, eh?

1. Act of Darkness by Jane Haddam (Gregor Demarkian #3). Even though it's been awhile since I delved into this series, it's been a favorite of mine. In my ongoing and seemingly never-ending thread on Women Authors, I highlighted Haddam's work a few posts ago. Check here if your interested. 

"Stephen Fox may be a moron, but he may also be America’s next president. The dimwitted legislator is just smart enough to know when to smile for the camera. But two women stand in the way of his campaign: his mistress and his wife, who has never recovered from the death of their daughter, a pain she manages by devoting herself to fundraising for children with Down syndrome. During a weekend-long charity extravaganza on Long Island Sound, Fox’s candidacy goes off the rails in a spectacularly bloody fashion. Ex-FBI investigator Gregor Demarkian is the first on the scene. Fox’s entourage of political handlers may lie for a living, but Demarkian has a way of ferreting out the truth, and he will nab the killer before the last firework sounds."

2. Unruly Son by Robert Barnard (1979) (Also published under Death of a Mystery Writer). A new author for me.

"Sir Oliver Fairleigh-Stubbs, overweight and overbearing, collapses and dies at his birthday party while indulging his taste for rare liquors. He had promised his daughter he would be polite and charitable for the entire day, but the strain of such exemplary behavior was obviously too great. He leaves a family relieved to be rid of him, and he also leaves a fortune, earned as a bestselling mystery author.

To everyone's surprise, Sir Oliver's elder son, who openly hated his father, inherits most of the estate. His wife, his daughter, and his younger son are each to receive the royalties from one carefully chosen book. But the manuscript of the unpublished volume left to Sir Oliver's wife -- a posthumous "last case" that might be worth millions -- has disappeared. And Sir Oliver's death is beginning to look less than natural.

Into this bitter household comes Inspector Meredith, a spirited Welshman who in some ways resembles Sir Oliver's fictional hero. In Robert Barnard's skillful hands, Inspector Meredith's investigation becomes not only a classic example of detection but an elegant and humorous slice of crime."

So there you go folks. Some reading ideas for you for your Easter weekend. Have a great weekend!

April 2022 Reading and New Book Update

March ended with Jo and I visiting Qualicum Beach for a nice afternoon out; lunch at Gary's Bistro and then a wander around the shops. (I only bought one book) We managed to avoid the rain drops pretty well but by the time we left, it was raining a bit. (The puppies were happy when we got home.) We treated ourselves to another dinner out (sort of), a Big Box of chicken strips from the local Chicken Shack on Dyke road. Just big enough for Jo and I to share satisfactorily.

Didn't do much over the weekend because the weather was kind of crappy. But we did have a nice video chat with my daughter Jenn and her boyfriend. That was nice.

Bonnie in the garden

Yesterday, Bonnie broke one of her toe nails so she had to be brought to the vet to have it removed. She is currently lying on the sofa with her foot bandaged and has to go back tomorrow and Friday to have her bandage replaced with a fresh one. She slept most of yesterday, under the influence of the anesthetic, but seems much better today. While she was at the vet, I took the opportunity to stop at our local pharmacy and pick up my chlorohexidine sponges. I go in for day surgery on Thursday so have to sponge myself down Wednesday night and then again Thursday before I head to the hospital. Jo will have both me and Bonnie on her hands for the next few days because I plan to be feeling quite sorry for myself for at least the weekend. 😟😢😬 

Clyde after his dental surgery....

Of course she will have Clyde to help her... 

Anyway, so things have been a mite topsy - turvy this week. 

So, now on to books. I have finished one book so far in April. I'll provide my review of it as well as those of the last two I completed in March. I'll also provide the synopses of those books I've started since my last reading update and then finish with a look at the newest books gracing my book shelves. Ready? Go!

Just Finished

1. Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter (Nanette Hayes #1). A new series for me and I loved it. #2 is on my bookshelf.

"What a breath of fresh air Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter was. This is the first book in her Nanette Hayes mystery series. There are currently 4 books in the series and I have the 2nd one on my bookshelf. :0)

Nanette Hayes is a jazz-loving, saxophone playing, beautiful, intelligent woman making her living playing on the street in New York and sometimes translating works between French and English. Her best friend, Aubrey, is a stripper and successful businesswoman. She has an on-again, off-again relationship with Walter. At the moment it's off.

Nanette meets Sig, another street musician, looking for a place to crash and she lets him sleep on her floor of her flat. The next morning she finds him dead, stabbed in the throat. It turns out that Sig is an undercover cop. (Is he also a corrupt cop?) Well, Nanette finds $50,000 stuffed in her saxophone.... 

This begins a fascinating, entertaining, great story as Nanette gets involved with a Greek fella who wants her to teach him everything about Charlie (Bird) Parker... oh and also romances her like she's never been romanced before. The bodies begin to multiply, dead bodies that is... Nanette is harassed by Sig's partner, Det Leman Sweet, angry that his partner is dead and maybe because he might have been corrupt. Nanette begins to conduct her own investigation. What about this money? What is Rhode Island Red? Who is Wild Bill? Who is Henry for that matter? 

It's all excellent. Nanette is such a wonderfully sexy character, full of passion, jazzy, a full-figured, wonderful African-American woman, who you just want to meet and talk about jazz or anything. The story is peopled with wonderful characters; Aubrey, her boss, the gay strip club owner and Mob guy, Thom, even Nanette's mom who makes just a couple of appearances. I enjoyed this so very much. It flowed smoothly, had sufficient action to satisfy me and like I said a couple of times, there is an underlying sexiness to the whole thing. If you are also trying to explore African - American fiction as well, you might like to try this. Being an old white male, I can't attest to its authenticity, but either way, I loved it and will be enjoying more of Carter's writing. (4.5 stars)"

2. Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart (Kopp Sisters #1). Another new author and series for me, excellent historical mystery.

"Girl Waits with Gun by Amy  Stewart is the first book in the Kopp sisters series. There are currently 8 books in this series and I'm looking forward to getting the 2nd book. The first was a pleasant, entertaining surprise.

As I understand it, the book is based on true events and true people, a story that is fictionalized. The Kopp sisters, Constance, Norma and Fleurette live on a farm outside Wyckoff New Jersey. Their mother has recently died and they are trying to make ends meet. On a buggy trip into town to get supplies, a car driven by one Henry Kaufmann, a local mill owner, and his cronies, crashes into the buggy, overturning it and destroying it. 

Constance sends a letter asking for money to repair the damage caused by Kaufmann. This starts a chain of events that will cause the Kopp sisters to be under threat by Kaufmann and his drunken friends. The local Sheriff, Mr. Heath, will get involved and spend the next year, investigating and trying to protect the sisters. They have windows broken, their house trashed. Heath teaches them to shoot and provides them with handguns for protection.

As well, Constance begins her own investigation into another situation. It seems Mr. Kaufmann has had a child with one of his employees and the child was taken from her. Constance wants to help the lady, for reasons that will come out over the course of the story, and she finds herself drawn into this situation. 

It's an interesting story. The Kopp sisters are well-drawn, each has their own personalities; Norma, the logical, down-to-earth sister, who tries to keep the family out of the spotlight; youngest Fleurette, who is artistic, creative and keeps the other two on their toes, and Constance, who is the core of the story and grows during the course of the book. The Sheriff, Mr. Heath, is so helpful and an interesting, supportive individual. The Kopp's brother Francis, who lives in town with wife Bessie and two children, tries to help his sisters and feels an obligation to them remains on the periphery, but he's interesting. 

The story is well-crafted, written in a somewhat formal style (reminds me of Laurie King's Mary Russel historical mystery series in that way) and moves along nicely. I liked the story, the characters and the ultimate resolution. It left me with the desire to see what the next stage in the Kopp sisters' lives will involve. Worth trying. (4 stars)"

3. Landed Gently by Alan Hunter (George Gently #4). An excellent series that I've unfortunately let lapse. Nice to get back to it again.

"Landed Gently by Alan Hunter is the 4th book in his Chief Inspector George Gently mystery series. I always find it amazing that the books (so far, anyway) is so different from the TV series based on the books. But who knows, maybe at some point in the books Gently does go to Newcastle to work that. In the interim, he is a Chief Inspector in Scotland Yard.

This story is set during Christmas and find the good Inspector heading north to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable of North Northshire, Sir Daynes Broke. On the train journey he meets an American Air Force Lt, William Earle, also heading to the same area. Earle is the guest of Lord Somerhayes. His estate borders that of Sir Broke. Gently is hoping to get in some pike fishing with his host during his visit.

Unfortunately, the young American is found dead on Christmas morning, lying at the bottom of a stairway in the Great Hall of Merely Hall. While Sir Broke feels the death is simply an accident (Earle broke his neck falling down the staircase), his Inspector Dyson, along with the medical officer, believe a murder may have been committed. Gently tends to agree and is reluctantly brought into the investigation at the instigation of Lord Somerhayes.

Thus begins a criminal investigation at the manor. While Earle seems to have been a popular individual, there are also those who had reason to dislike the young man. The manor has become a commercial enterprise, a group of individuals working in one of the wings creating tapestries. Earle seems to have had designs on Lord Somerhayes' cousin, young widow Mrs. Page, and the murder may have been as a result of jealousy due to Earle's actions. 

Like the other Gently mysteries, this is an entertaining story. Gently is a great character tending to rely on instincts when investigating. He feels he's being led in a certain direction as he wanders about, trying to stay out of the way of Sir Broke and Inspector Dyson, but he has to also try to temper the Chief Constable who jumps to conclusions and tries to keep the Lord out of police sights.

It's all very fascinating and very cold (there is a scene on the roof between Gently and Lord Somerhayes that left me shivering). There is relatively no action and it's a closed door type mystery but well-crafted and interesting to work through. The resulting conclusion is satisfying on the whole. I look forward to continuing my journey with George Gently, to see where his future lies. (4 stars)

Currently Reading

1. The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner (Jo Beckett #2). I have read the first book in this thriller series as well as the first book in Gardiner's Evan Delaney series but it's been 6 years since I tried another. About time.

"Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett's specialty is the psychological autopsy- an investigation into a person's life to determine whether a death was natural, accidental, suicide, or homicide. She calls herself a dead=shrinker instead of a head-shrinker: The silence of her "patients" is a key part of the job's attraction. When Jo is asked to do a psychological autopsy on a living person-one with a suspect memory who can't be trusted to participate in his own medical care-she knows all her skills will be put to the test.

Jo is called to the scene of an aircraft inbound from London to help deal with a passenger who is behaving erratically. She figures out that he's got anterograde amnesia, and can't form new memories. Jo finds herself racing to save a patient who can walk and talk and yet can't help Jo figure out just what happened to him. For every cryptic clue he is able to drag up from his memory, Jo has to sift through a dozen nonsensical statements.

Suddenly a string of clues arises, something to do with a super deadly biological agent code-named "Slick," a missing wife and son, and a secret partnership gone horribly wrong. Jo realizes her patient's addled mind may hold the key to preventing something terrible from happening in her beloved San Francisco.

In order to prevent it, she will have to get deeper into the life of a patient than she ever has before, hoping the truth emerges from the fog of his mind in time to save her city-and herself."

2. Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler & Craig Dirgo (Oregon Files #1). I've tried most of Cussler's series so far but this will be my first attempt at the Oregon Files.

"In his first feature-length adventure, it's up to Cabrillo and his crew of expert intelligence and Naval men to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese. His gambling chip is a golden Buddha containing records of vast oil reserves in the disputed land.

But first, he'll have to locate—and steal—the all-important artifact. And there are certain people who would do anything in their power to see him fail..."

3. Burning Questions; Essays and Occasional Pieces 2004- 2021 by Margaret Atwood (2022). I picked this up when Jo and I were in Qualicum last week and started it while waiting for her to check out a few of her favorite shops. Atwood is one of my most enduring authors; having started reading her books and poetry back in my university days '74 - 78. Btw, I'm enjoying this very much.

"From cultural icon Margaret Atwood comes a brilliant collection of essays--funny, erudite, endlessly curious, uncannily prescient--which seek answers to Burning Questions such as:

Why do people everywhere, in all cultures, tell stories?
How much of yourself can you give away without evaporating?
How can we live on our planet?
Is it true? And is it fair?
What do zombies have to do with authoritarianism?

In over fifty pieces Atwood aims her prodigious intellect and impish humour at the world, and reports back to us on what she finds. This roller-coaster period brought the end of history, a financial crash, the rise of Trump, and a pandemic. From debt to tech, the climate crisis to freedom; from when to dispense advice to the young (answer: only when asked) to how to define granola, we have no better guide to the many and varied mysteries of our universe."

New Books

(6 new books to have you check out.)

1. Wycliffe and the Dunes Mystery by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #19). One of my favorite mystery series. One I enjoy curling up with and luckily I still have a few to read.

"Cochran Wilder disappeared fifteen years ago while on a walking holiday in Cornwall. Recently released from a psychiatric hospital after being convicted of indecent assault, he had been a serious embarrassment to his father, a prominent MP. Now his body has been found, buried in the dunes. It is clear that he was murdered.

Wycliffe suspects the involvement of six people, now well-established figures in the community, who at the time had been spending an illicit weekend at a chalet near where Wilder's body was found. All are disturbed by Wycliffe's interest and by a series of threatening anonymous communications. But then a second murder is committed and the investigation takes on a new urgency."

2. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (1996). Yes, another Atwood. I have three or four on my book shelves to still enjoy. Found this at a local Little Free Library when I was out with Jo, making my rounds. Jo and I enjoyed the CBC mini-series based on the book.

"It's 1843, and Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer and his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence, Grace claims to have no memory of the murders.

An up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story while bringing her closer and closer to the day she cannot remember. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories?"

3. The Border by Don Winslow (Power of the Dog #3). I have a couple of Winslow's books now but have yet to try them. I've enjoyed his comments on Twitter very much. He's a powerful voice there.

"What do you do when there are no borders? When the lines you thought existed simply vanish?  How do you plant your feet to make a stand when you no longer know what side you’re on?

The war has come home.

For over forty years, Art Keller has been on the front lines of America’s longest conflict: The War on Drugs. His obsession to defeat the world’s most powerful, wealthy, and lethal kingpin? the godfather of the Sinaloa Cartel, Adán Barrera? has left him bloody and scarred, cost him the people he loves, even taken a piece of his soul.

Now Keller is elevated to the highest ranks of the DEA, only to find that in destroying one monster he has created thirty more that are wreaking even more chaos and suffering in his beloved Mexico. But not just there.

Barrera’s final legacy is the heroin epidemic scourging America. Throwing himself into the gap to stem the deadly flow, Keller finds himself surrounded by enemies? men who want to kill him, politicians who want to destroy him, and worse, the unimaginable, an incoming administration that’s in bed with the very drug traffickers that Keller is trying to bring down.

Art Keller is at war with not only the cartels, but with his own government. And the long fight has taught him more than he ever imagined. Now, he learns the final lesson? there are no borders.

In a story that moves from deserts of Mexico to Wall Street, from the slums of Guatemala to the marbled corridors of Washington, DC, Winslow follows a new generation of narcos, the cops who fight them, street traffickers, addicts, politicians, money-launderers, real-estate moguls, and mere children fleeing the violence for the chance of a life in a new country."

4. Lessons from the Edge; A Memoir by Marie Yovanovitch (2022). I was so impressed with then Ambassador Yovanovitch's testimony during the 1st Trump impeachment. She was calm, strong and intelligent during vicious cross-examination by Trumpy GOP reps. I'm looking forward to reading about her.

"By the time she became US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch had seen her share of corruption, instability, and tragedy in developing countries. But it came as a shock when, in early 2019, she was recalled from her post after a smear campaign by President Trump’s personal attorney and his associates—men operating outside of normal governmental channels, and apparently motivated by personal gain. Her courageous participation in the subsequent impeachment inquiry earned Yovanovitch the nation’s respect, and her dignified response to the president’s attacks won our hearts. She has reclaimed her own narrative, first with her lauded congressional testimony, and now with this memoir.

 
A child of parents who survived Soviet and Nazi terror, Yovanovitch’s life and work have taught her the preciousness of democracy as well as the dangers of corruption. Lessons from the Edge follows the arc of her career as she develops into the person we came to know during the impeachment proceedings."

5. Hannah Arendt: The Last Interview (2013). I bought a similar book about Ursula K. Le Guin. It turns out that a number of personages were subject of similar interviews. I know nothing about Arendt except (I believe) she was a powerful voice during the early 1900's labor movement and efforts to forestall World War 1.. Of course, I may be totally wrong but I had heard of her and wanted to discover more.

"“There are no dangerous thoughts for the simple reason that thinking itself is such a dangerous enterprise.” — Hannah Arendt

In these interviews—including her final interview given in October 1973, in the midst of Watergate and the Yom Kippur War—Hannah Arendt discusses politics, war, protest movements, the Eichmann trial, Jewish identity, and language with the incisiveness and courage that always set her apart."

6. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker - Chan (The Radiant Emperor #1 / 2021). Another new author for me. While I waited for Bonnie to finish her visit at the vet, I wandered through our local Coles Books and saw this in the Fantasy / Sci Fi section. The clerk provided a very positive statement about it so I'm glad that I took a chance. Of course, I may not like, but we'll see.

"In Mongol-occupied imperial China, a peasant girl refuses her fate of an early death. Stealing her dead brother’s identity to survive, she rises from monk to soldier, then to rebel commander. Zhu’s pursuing the destiny her brother somehow failed to attain: greatness. But all the while, she feels Heaven is watching.

Can anyone fool Heaven indefinitely, escaping what’s written in the stars? Or can Zhu claim her own future, burn all the rules and rise as high as she can dream?"

There you go folks. Maybe some of these books might pique your interest. Enjoy your week.

A Sunday Rainy Morning Reading Update

It's rainy out this morning. Jo is in bed sort of listening and watching the Grand Prix. The puppies are downstairs with me as I write (type) this and listen to the Blue Jays spring training game in the background. While I do that, I'll provide a brief update on new books (not too many), books completed and what books I've started to replace those completed.

New Books

Two books arrived at the end of the week.

1. To Journey in the Year of the Tiger (Upper Kingdom #1) by H. Leighton Dixon. Dixon liked a tweet of mine on Twitter and I saw she was a Fantasy writer. Thought I should check out this series. It looks interesting.

"TO JOURNEY IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER is the first in a Ground-Breaking Original Series by H. Leighton Dickson. This is a powerful, post-apocalyptic story of lions and tigers, wolves and dragons, embracing and blending the cultures of Dynastic China, Ancient India and Feudal Japan. Half feline, half human, this genetically altered world has evolved in the wake of the fall of human civilization. Fans of Tolkien, Game of Thrones, Redwall or Japanese anime will be entertained in these intelligent and beautifully written pages in a blend of science, fantasy and zoological speculation. Kirin Wynegarde-Grey is a young lion with a big job - Captain of the Guard in a Kingdom that spans from the mountains of western China to the deserts of the Middle East. When an ancient threat awakens in the West and threatens to overthrow the Empire, he must lead a team that includes his enigmatic brother, a lethal swordswoman and three radically different and mysterious specialists through a world where humans are legend and animals walk like men. This is the journey of six individuals as they travel beyond the edges of the known Empire, into lands uncharted and wild. It is a journey of magic and mystery, science and swords, romance and intrigue. It is a journey of different perspectives and unexpected kharma and love found in surprising places. It is a journey that takes place five thousand years or so in the future, naturally in the Year of the Tiger."

2. The Religious Body by Catherine Aird (Inspector Sloane #1). I'm always on the lookout for a new mystery series (in the respect that it is new for me, not necessarily a current series)

""Sister Anne," said the Mother Superior unperturbed, "died on Wednesday evening sometime after supper, probably in the corridor leading from the Great Hall to the kitchens. Her body was put into the broom cupboard and later thrown down the cellar steps. "Who would want to kill a cloistered nun? But, astonishingly, someone had. It was as much of a surprise to the sisters of the Convent of St. Anselm as it was to Inspector C. D. Sloan, Criminal Investigation Department. But now it was up to the Inspector to find the motive and the murderer."

Just Finished

Three books finished since my last update, one short graphic novel, one psychological mystery and one noirish mystery.

1. Northwest Resistance by Katherena Vermette (A Girl Called Echo #3).

"Northwest Resistance is the 3rd book in the YA / graphic novel series by Katherena Vermette. It comes under the A Girl Called Echo series of 4 graphic novels. 

Echo is a Métis girl living in Winnipeg Manitoba, adjusting to her mother being in rehab, to a new school and also to jumping back and forth in time to see events that take place in the 1800's in Canada. She follows the Métis people trying to fight for their rights against a recalcitrant Canadian government that is flexing its powers as it tries to expand to the West.

In this story, we see Louis Riel again as he tries to unite the Métis and nearby Indian tribes as they try to establish their communities against incoming English settlers. It's a tragic story and ends with Riel being surrendering to the Canadian authorities to stop the warfare and protect his people. Echo views these tragic events and we see the effect it has on her. At the same time her mother is soon to be out of rehab, another event that will affect her life.

The artwork is clear and beautifully colored and the story is interesting and also provides a perspective on a portion of Canada's history that I knew little about. One more book in this short but interesting series. (3.5 stars)"

2. The Diamond Bikini by Charles Williams (1956).

"The Diamond Bikini by Charles Williams was basically just silly. But a quick check revealed it was silly enough to be turned into a movie in France; Fantasia chez le ploucs (1971).

Seven - year old Billy and his dad, Sam Noonan, live in a trailer, and follow the race track circuit until Dad is forced to hit the road. They end up in Louisiana where Sam's brother, Sagamore Noonan, resides. (Now this story is told from the perspective of Billy and is colored by his childish vision. But, the gist is that Sagamore is a shifty fella, and the local sheriff has been trying to catch him at his illegal activities for years. 

Also showing up at the farm is 'Dr.' Severance and his 'charge' Caroline Harrington. Thinking they can make some money off them, Billy's pop rents out some space for the duo's trailer. It becomes apparent (not to Billy necessarily) that the two are on the run from someone. Caroline seems a very nice lady. She takes a shine to Billy, teaching him to swim in the lake. (Much is made about her skimpy bikini and her tattoo.... 

Things start to pick up. Men armed with tommy guns show up trying to remove Caroline. The police try to arrest Sagamore and Pop for an illegal still. Both events have dire consequences. When another attempt is made on Caroline's life and she disappears, Sagamore and Pop see it as a great money - making opportunity and it degenerates from there.

It's a silly story but an entertaining read. Does it fit in the noir genre? That's why I tried it. It doesn't seem noir to me, but maybe the French are the best arbiters of that style of mystery. Try it and see what you think. (3 stars)"

3. The Players and the Game by Julian Symons (1972).

"My first and only previous exposure to Julian Symons was The Blackheath Poisonings: A Victorian Murder Mystery. I enjoyed it very much and now that I've finally tried a second, The Players and The Game, I think I may have to explore a bit more of his work. Luckily I have a couple of more books by him on my shelf.

At its most basic, The Players and The Game is a police procedural, as we follow Inspector Hazelton and his fellow coppers, Paterson, Brill and Plender as the investigate first the disappearances of a French au-pair and another young woman, then as they discover a possible serial killer, a deeper, more comprehensive investigation begins. But as I got into this story, I discovered there was much more to it and thought that it had sensibilities to others I've enjoyed, by authors Hillary Waugh and Michael Gilbert.

The story follows the police investigation but it also explores the lives of various suspects, especially Paul Vane, a newcomer to Rawley, a man who has his own issues; both with his family and his work. We also get to read the diary of one Dracula, who is discovering his own personality, quoting Nietzsche as he explores his 'criminal' activities with partner Bonnie. I don't want to ruin this story by getting into much more detail about the plot, suffice it say that the mystery is well-crafted, the characters are all fascinating; from the police themselves to the victims / suspects as well, and that the story moves along nicely as everything begins to tie together in such a satisfying fashion.

It's a pretty darn perfect psychological thriller and even though the murderous act(s) seem to have been perverse and shocking, they are left for the most part to your imagination... that can be shocking enough. I enjoyed the story so very much. The deeper I got into it, the more I had to keep reading it. The solution was satisfying and believable. The police aren't perfect but they are hard working and imaginative enough to work through the clues to come to the final result. But as you will see, their work can have unintended tragic consequences as well. Excellent mystery. (5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Landed Gently by Alan Hunter (Inspector George Gently #4). I've enjoyed the first three books and it's been too long since I've visited with this series.

"Having been invited to spend Christmas in the country, fishing for pike, Gently finds himself hunting a completely different predator when a guest at Merely Hall, a nearby stately home, is found dead at the foot of the grand staircase on Christmas morning.

At first the tragedy is assumed to be a simple accident, but Gently is not one to jump to conclusions and is soon in no doubt whatsoever that this was murder.

Merely produces the finest tapestries in England but the threads that Gently must unravel in his investigation are more complex than any weaver's design, with everyone from the lord of the manor to his most lowly servant falling under suspicion."

2. Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter (Nanette Hayes #1 / 1997). This will be the last of my March Focus books - Mystery Noir).

"Nanette is doing OK playing her saxophone out on the street. Sure her boyfriend Walter doesn't think it's any way for a black woman with a Masters degree in French to carry on, but she's happy. Then things start happening. An undercover cop dies in her apartment. A strange man wants her to explain the mystery of Charlie Parker. Walter wants to get married. And who or what is Rhode Island Red? Fast, sweet and funny, Rhode Island Red is a classic New York thriller, the story of a Spike Lee heroine in a Woody Allen world."

3. The Child Garden by Geoff Ryman (1989). I've lined this up for my April Focus Challenge - Sci-Fi.

"In a semi-tropical London, surrounded by paddy-fields, the people feed off the sun, like plants, the young are raised in Child Gardens and educated by viruses, And the Consensus oversees the country, 'treating' non-conformism. Information, culture, law and politics are biological functions. But Milena is different: she is resistant to viruses and an incredible musician, one of the most extraordinary women of her age. This is her story and that of her friends, like Lucy the immortal tumor and Joseph the Postman whose mind is an information storehouse for others, and Rolfa, genetically engineered as a Polar Bear, whose beautiful singing voice first awakens Milena to the power of music."

I think it's a nice variety. Check them out and have a great week.