"The Fall"

Our oldest daughter recommended this film by Tarsem to us because of its cinematography and beautiful story. It's rated R even though one of the stars is a young girl. It is a puzzle within a puzzle at times so that makes it a bit complicated and harder to follow even for me as an adult.
We checked it out from the library and watched it last night along with all the special features. It was filmed over a period of 4 years in 18 different countries and the director appears meticulous in filming the details. The film is set in 1920s L.A. where Alexandria (played by Catinca Untaru), a 5 year old girl who is hospitalized after a fall, strikes up a friendship with a Hollywood stuntman, Roy (played by Lee Pace), who has suffered a near-fatal movie set accident. He starts to spin her a fantasy story and the authentic interaction between Roy and Alexandria is what really makes this movie in my opinion -- along with the beautiful scenery and rich detail.

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"Ghost of A Chance"

This book by Yasmine Galenorn (who also writes under the pseudonym of India Ink) is the first in a paranormal mystery series called Chintz 'n China. The heroine of the series, Emerald O'Brien, is the owner of the Chintz 'n China Tea Room and lives in the small fictional town of Chiqetaw, WA. (All other cities mentioned in the book are real Washington cities.) Emerald is also a psychic and a tarot-reader who has been divorced a couple of years and has a teenage daughter and a young son (her son has inherited her psychic ability). She also has a couple of best friends who play an important part in helping her solve her mystery --Harlow, an ex-supermodel -- and Murray, a policewoman.

The book begins with a recently deceased local woman making an appearance to Emerald and her son asking for their help in solving her murder -- a murder that the police have deemed accidental. What follows is exciting and frightening with a little romance thrown in for good measure. I'll be reading more of Galenorn's books but hope the next one doesn't throw in a detailed sex scene. I thought the story could have added romance without that and I felt the one major scene itself in the midst of the book was out of place. That was my only criticism, though, so, if you like paranormal mysteries, check this out.

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"Revenge of the Spellmans"

Lisa Lutz is fast becoming one of my favorite authors and I thoroughly enjoyed this third book in her series about the Spellman family but featuring Private Investigator Isabel (Izzy) Spellman. Izzy is taking a break from working for her parents' detective agency by tending bar for her friend, Milo. However, she does agree to take on a case for one of Milo's friends and finds herself working on that while embroiled in her usual family escapades while trying to negotiate a truce between her younger sister, Rae, and their mutual friend, Detective Henry Stone. It was good I wasn't reading this one in bed as I would have been shaking the bed with laughter while my spouse was trying to sleep! Not only is this a fun read but would make a great gift for someone on your list who likes Janot Evanovich novels.

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P.S. For you Spellman family fans, the first book, "The Spellman Files," is in development with Paramount Pictures -- I can hardly wait. Check out lisalutz.com.

"Death of a Perfect Wife"

I'm reading M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth mysteries in order and in a quick overnight read I've just finished "Death of a Perfect Wife." When Paul and Trixie Thomas purchase a "fixer-upper" and move to Lochdubh to open a Bed and Breakfast, Trixie turns the town upside down. She organizes the local ladies to involve them in environmental issues as well as change the habits long ingrained in this town. She wants to clean it and them up from their homes to their husbands. This doesn't sit well with everyone and eventually Trixie is found dead and there is no lack of suspects. In the midst of the investigation Hamish seems to have turned off his romantic feelings towards Priscilla Halburton-Smythe and she notices! Perhaps their worlds are too different? As usual,I couldn't put this book down until I found out who the culprit was and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series -- not just to watch Hamish solve another mystery but to discover if perhaps he and Priscilla might have something in common after all.

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"The Last King of Texas"

This is author Rick Riordan's third book in the series featuring Texas P.I., Tres Navarre and, although I've thoroughly enjoyed each one of them, this has to be my favorite so far. It starts off with a bang -- and I mean that literally -- and has Tres taking on a teaching position at the University of Texas at San Antonio for which his Ph.D. well qualifies him to be an English professor. However, that's not his only role at the University -- He's still on the payroll as a P.I. investigating the murder of his predecessor along with some related murders -- or attempted murders.

In addition to including some of his regular cast of characters (friends and family), this book introduces some new players that I'm thinking may appear in future books, too. As always, Navarre's life is complicated professionally and personally but he almost manages to get himself killed this time. I couldn't put it down while trying to figure out all the twists and turns. Hint: Don't start this book if you have holiday cards to send out or presents to wrap! It's totally distracting.

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"A Country Called Home"

This novel by Kim Barnes was a Kansas City Star Best Book of the Year, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year, and an Oregonian Top Ten Northwest Book of the Year. It's set in the 60's -- about the time I was a young bride myself -- and it brought back a lot of memories about what it was like to be a wife, mother, and woman in those times. Dr. Thomas Deracotte, a young doctor, brings his bride, Helen, to Idaho where he plans to start a practice. He was attracted to Helen because she was a free spirit but he doesn't know how to be a husband to her. He purchases a rundown farm and hires Manny, a local boy living on his own, as his hired hand. Manny knows more than the doctor about what it takes to be a farmer. Thomas would be content to fish all day and believes Helen should be content in her roles as his wife and a mother. He doesn't understand her need for adult companionship outside the house. This is a novel about complicated relationships, friendships, growing up, and loss. It is so true to the time it is written in that it is easy to become engrossed in this Idaho town and Thomas and Helen's world -- as if you were there -- and as if it were real.

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"Take Me With You"

I picked up this book on a whim while at the library with my grandson. It was in the children's section and looked interesting. Carolyn Marsden, the author, got the idea for this story from hearing an Italian friend (Daniella Cinque) describe her childhood growing up in a convent in Naples for unwanted girls after World War II. The story itself centers on two young girls who have grown up in just such an institute and have been best friends. Pina is a beautiful blonde while Susanna is a "mulatta" which probably means her father was a black American G.I. When families come looking for a child to adopt, they both hope to be adopted but it turns out there are complications in both their cases that might be barriers to adoption. Susanna believes Pina is more "adoptable" because of her blonde hair and the fact that she fits into a more traditional Italian regional look. So....what happens, are they adopted? You'll have to read it to find out and it's a quick read -- only took me a few hours to satisfy my curiosity!

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"Five Red Herrings"

Date night this week was a viewing of Dorothy Sayers' "Five Red Herrings" on DVD with Ian Carmichael again playing Lord Peter Wimsey. It's a "whodunit" with too many suspects -- so many that at times it is difficult to keep the guilty and the innocent straight. The DVD set consists of 4 discs but we decided to make a night of it and watch it all the way through. I do think this might have helped us keep track of the players a little better. In the end, of course, Lord Peter Wimsey (who was supposedly on vacation), and his faithful employee, Bunter, manage to sort it all out to everyone's satisfaction. Case solved, vacation over!

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"Crazy Heart" DVD

"Crazy Heart" was written by Thomas Cobb and, although I haven't yet read his novel, I'd heard a lot about the movie so I decided to check it out. Jeff Bridges portrays "Bad" Blake, a country music singer who is in his 50's and down on his luck but looking for a way to climb out. He used to write incredible songs and sings all his own original songs in the dives he's now performing at -- mostly one night stands leaving him traveling during the day to get to the next night's gig. He's under pressure from his manager and a younger country music star (who he helped get his start) to write more songs. They tell him that's where the money is -- write songs for the younger star to perform.

There's a problem, though, because Blake spends too much time smoking and drinking booze and it's affecting his work plus he's not able to find inspiration for new songs.

He appears to have spent a lifetime running from relationships - marriages and a son (now in his late 20's) who he hasn't seen since he was 4 years old. Although we get a glimpse of the women who offer themselves to him at every stop, none of them are serious until he meets a young reporter (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal) whose uncle asks Blake to allow her to interview him as a favor to the uncle. She's a single mom with a four year old son and Blake is drawn to her and she to him and they attempt to have somewhat of a long-distance relationship. Blake manages to ruin that with his drinking but it's the impetus he needs to ask a friend (Robert Duvall) for help getting sober (something a doctor couldn't get him to do after he is involved in a one car rollover accident. The doctor tells him his drinking and smoking and general lifestyle are leading him to an early death.) Sobriety leads to a new life for Blake with new songs and an upsurge in his career and finances.

Incredible performances by Bridges and Gyllenhaal!

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"The Shadow in the North"

Although Philip Pullman's novels are available in paperback, I haven't read any of them. However, I've watched the two DVD's based on his books starring Billie Piper who is truly believable as Sally Lockhart, a woman living in the 1870's who is independent -- not a common womanly trait in those days. As Sally is trying to help one of her financial clients recover some money she's lost in an investment gone wrong, her friends, Fred and Jim, are investigating an entirely different case in their work as private detectives. As they learn there is a connection between the two investigations, danger arises for them and everyone around them. I'm disappointed that this appears to be the last DVD available based on the Sally Lockhart mysteries -- maybe I'll need to read the books!

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"Fell Purpose"

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' latest Detective Inspector Slider myster does not disappoint. Slider and his team are investigating a young girl's murder on a Bank Holiday Monday so it's no holiday for them. It takes the whole team to try to find out more about this young woman as she seems to have kept her doings private from her strict parents and her school friends. As they investigate and think they have an idea about "who did it," more possible suspects are unearthed requiring additional legwork. In the meantime, Slider and his wife, Joanna, are feeling quite cramped in her pre-marital living space now that they have a toddler son, George, sleeping in their bedroom, too. As Slider is engrossed in solving his case, Joanna is looking for a larger home but everything seems priced out of their reach. In the midst of all this, Slider's father has been trying to reach them -- He just might have the perfect solution to their living arrangements! Another great read by Harrod-Eagles!

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"The Last Detective" Series 3 and 4

Well, this week my spouse and I watched the last two "Dangerous" Davies DVD's and I was so disappointed because I thought this was the end of the series. However, amazon.com is showing a Series 5* so there's hope! In Series 3 and 4 Davies has some relationship changes and many more cases to solve. Some of those cases involve fellow policeman which is where he always seems to get in trouble with his superiors! As you probably have guessed, we have really enjoyed this series so I'm off to find Series 5*.

*11/28/10 - My local library informs me that Series 5 is actually all the previous series in one DVD so I'm sad to report there are no more Dangerous Davies episodes to watch!

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"Ruby In The Smoke"

This DVD adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel by Masterpiece Theatre stars Billie Piper as Sally Lockhart -- a young woman who has recurring nightmares after her father's death. Sally's treatment by the aunt she now lives with is unendurable so she leaves to make her own way in the world. In the meantime she discovers her own life is in danger and, with the help of friends, Sally must discover why as well as learn the mystery of her past. Sally's sleuthing takes her into the seedy world of opium dens. At times this movie is pretty dark but Sally's friends bring lightness and humor to the story. When my spouse and I started watching the movie, it seemed familiar and we realized we'd seen it years ago on our local PBS channel but watched it again since we couldn't remember all the details. I've just requested the next DVD in the Sally Lockhart mysteries from our local library for another date night viewing.

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"Justice - What's The Right Thing To Do?"

Michael J. Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University where he has taught since 1980. Sandel's "Justice" course is very popular -- so popular in fact that it has had to be moved to a larger venue to accommodate students and guests who want to attend the lectures. Personally, I think this course should be a requirement for students in high school, too, as I believe discussing many of the topics this course covers would prepare our young people for entering the "real world" more than many other required courses.

Topics include affirmative action, same-sex marriage, physician-assisted suicide, abortion, national service, patriotism and dissent, and more. When my book club decided to discuss this book, we were told that we had the option of reading the book, watching the DVD's, and/or going on-line to view it. My spouse and I checked out both the book and the DVD's from the library but I found watching the DVD's the most effective for me although I supplemented that with reading some passages from the book.

Why do I like the DVD's so well? They really show Sandel's teaching style and his total grasp of the philosophies that the class is based on. He's an amazing instructor and he is able to draw his students into classroom debates encouraging them to stand up and share their beliefs on a topic -- and why they believe that way. Other students can then promote their opposing viewpoint. I can certainly see a lot of excellent attorneys in the making watching these classroom debates. I would also hope this class might also graduate some future politicians who have the ability to really think through all sides of an issue. Sandel also does an excellent job of summarizing what has been debated in the classroom and how it relates to the current philosophy being discussed.

Readers of the book are encouraged to go online to discuss and share thoughts with other readers at www.justiceharvard.org. It's one of the most thought provoking books I've read and my book club decided one session was not enough to do it "justice" so we continued the discussion into a second monthly meeting. I cannot think of anyone this book would not be appropriate for except maybe individuals who are not open to exploring options or opposing viewpoints.

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"The News Where You Are"

This novel by Catherine O'Flynn centers on Frank Allcroft, a TV news anchor in the English town where he grew up. The story is about relationships among people of all ages formed in childhood, at work, and through family connections. Catherine O'Flynn's first novel, "What Was Lost," is not one I have read but I plan to as it is highly praised having won the Costa First Novel Award in 2007. It was also short-listed for the Guardian First Book Award and long-listed for the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize. O'Flynn says in the afterward that she wrote about "loss, memory, and the impact of the shifting city" in her first novel and, after finishing "The News Where You Are" she seems to have written about the same themes again.

The losses O'Flynn writes about aren't always those of death but losses of youth and relationships and perceptions. O'Flynn's characters are well developed and real -- in fact so real that some of them seem to have been drawn straight from the lives of some of my family members.

Although this book isn't a mystery per se, it does have a mystery set within it and uncovered by Frank in his effort to not let anyone be forgotten. He has a habit of working with the coroner to try to identify the next of kin in cases where there seems to be little information about a person who has died naturally but doesn't really warrant the police spending a lot of time investigating any family connections. Frank,to his wife's frustration, spends his off work hours on these cases and it appears to be something he can't help doing and can't bring himself to give up. It all leads to a surprising but very satisfying ending.

"The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries" Set One

This 3 disc DVD set from the BBC Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries includes 2 episodes: "Clouds of Witness" and "The Unpleasantness At The Bellona Club"
In "Clouds of Witness" Lord Peter's brother has been accused of murder and Lord Peter returns from his trip abroad to help his Scotland Yard detective friend find the actual culprit. There are lots of twists and turns leading up to a surprise conclusion. My spouse and I had fun trying to figure out "whodunit" and we actually did pretty well despite new evidence cropping up that kept leading us down different paths.

I've already reviewed "The Unpleasantness At The Bellona Club" when we watched it from a single DVD set. (See October 25, 2010, entry.)

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"The Battle of the Labyrinth"

Oops! I just finished reading Book 4 in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & The Olympians series and, as there were references to people and events from the previous book, I felt like I was missing something -- or my memory's failing me! As it turns out, I forgot to read Book 3 so I'll be backtracking to read that one next to fill in a few blanks before going on to Book 5. Percy Jackson is in trouble from day one in "The Battle of the Labyrinth" (What's new?!) so I finished this 361 page book in a couple of days as I just couldn't put it down. If you prefer not to miss anything, though, I recommend reading them in order:
Book One: "The Lightning Thief"
Book Two: "The Sea of Monsters"
Book Three: "The Titan's Curse"
Book Four: "The Battle of the Labyrinth"

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Blog I Like

http://www.laurasleanbeef.com/blog - Check out this blog for "organic" beef recipes. Yes, I know, how can beef be organic but it's healthy beef!

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"The Last Detective" Series 2 DVD

Series 2 of "The Last Detective" DVD's (based on books by Leslie Thomas)highlights Detective "Dangerous" Davies' considerable skill and doggedness in pursuing a case to the end -- even after all the other detectives have declared a case solved. This series also delves a little more into Davies' marriage and the separation from his wife. The Last Detective is quickly becoming one of my favorite mystery series and I look forward to finding Series 3 to watch next.

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"The Hunter"

I made the mistake of reading Julia Leigh's "Disquiet" before I read her first novel, "The Hunter," and almost didn't read the latter. After reading "The Hunter" in just a few days, I now understand why the forward to this book says Leigh, a thirty-one year old Australian living in Paris, was "included on the London Observer's list of twenty-one writers to watch in the twenty-first century." The story is told from the viewpoint of the protagonist, "The Hunter," and the writing is magnificent. I couldn't set aside the time to spend the day reading it or I would have finished it in one sitting. It's another paperback I picked up from my library's "Best Picks" shelf and I'm glad I did!

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"The Widower's Two-Step"

Although I discovered Rick Riordan because of his Percy Jackson and the Olympians teen series, I then learned he wrote mysteries and I just finished reading the second one in a series (Hint -- read them in order!). The first book, "Big Red Tequila" introduced Tres Navarre as he is returning to his home town of San Antonio after living in California for a number of years. In the second book, "The Widower's Two-Step" he's apprenticed to a female private eye serving his time (at her whim) until he can apply for his own P.I. license. When he's told to back off a case that he's investigating for a friend in the music business, it's not his style to do so -- especially after two murders -- and he becomes embroiled in a case that is much bigger than he anticipated -- a great read!

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Foyle's War

My spouse and I began watching this series when our local PBS station aired it and it quickly became one of our favorite BBC series--for the mysteries and for the historical background. We seem to have missed part of the series, though, so just picked up Set 3 at our local library for our latest date night viewing. Detective Christopher Foyle (played by Michael Kitchen) plays the lead in this series based on historical fact and filmed in England. Although Detective Foyle would love to be part of the war effort, he seems to be destined to stay in Hastings solving local crimes while his son serves in the war as an RAF pilot. Honeysuckle Weeks plays "Sam," the female military driver assigned to squire him around while he's on duty. Sgt. Milner's (Foyle's able assistant)war wounds force him to return home and to his work in the police department helping solve crime on the home front. The story line also does an excellent job of developing the personal lives of all the characters and the impact the war has on each of them as well as the local community and England in general.

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"The Unpleasantness At The Bellona Club"

Ian Carmichael stars as Lord Peter Wimsey in this DVD version (two 90-minute disks) of a Dorothy L. Sayers mystery. Lord Peter is given the task of determining which of two elderly siblings (who died within a few hours of one another) died first -- a matter of inheritance. He also has to determine if foul play was involved in the death of one of the siblings. I was guessing (and changing my mind numerous times) throughout as to whether it was or was not foul play and, if so, who did it? I highly recommend this DVD if you like to play amateur sleuth!

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"The Men Who Stare At Goats"

Jon Ronson write a non-fiction best seller based on true events which was made into this very entertaining, very funny movie. George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Goat do a great job of bringing this story to life as they play what appear to be a group of eccentric men. It's New Age and thought provoking -- What if we did have an army that could fight without killing our enemies and invoking more bloodshed? For additional information on this unit, I recommend watching the segment (after the movie) titled "Goats Declassified: The Real Men of the First Earth Battalion."
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"The Wives of Henry Oades"

This first novel by Johanna Moran is based on a true story and she has done an excellent job of fleshing out details to tell a fascinating tale. It is the story of Henry Oades and his wife Margaret who set sail from England for New Zealand with their children as part of his employment. All goes well until Margaret and the children are kidnapped by native Maori. Although Henry looks for them, he is unable to locate them and they never return home. Eventually, his despair leads him to leave New Zealand to make a new life for himself in the San Francisco area. He becomes a respected rancher and eventually marries a young widow with a baby to raise. However, the story doesn't end there because Margaret and her children are allowed to leave the Maori when they develop smallpox and they eventually make their way to America to find Henry. As Paul Harvey would say, then comes the "rest of the story." It's a tale of legal battles and who is the rightful wife and how it is all resolved. It's a fascinating, well-written book and I'm sure Book Clubs will also find it ripe for discussion. You can visit the author's blog at www.johannamoran.com.

"Once In Every Life"

This is the second novel I've read by Kristin Hannah and is my favorite so far. The story lines are completely different but they have common threads -well developed relationships (particularly family relationships), romance, suspense and a plot twist. I'm not usually a romance fan so I skimmed over two fairly lengthy sex scenes which didn't really add to the story for me but this book was a quick read that kept me engaged from beginning to end. It's about two lonely people searching for second chances. There was humor, too, that had me laughing out loud at times.
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The Last Detective

Date night this weekend was spent watching Series 1 (4 episodes) of "The Last Detective," based on the Dangerous Davies novels by Leslie Thomas. Davies is played by Peter Davison and his friend, Mod, is played by Sean Hughes.

Episode 1 sets the stage for why Davies is known as "The Last Detective" and the other episodes showcase his ability to doggedly set about to solve cases that no one else wants. Characters are well developed -- his fellow staffers and supervisor at the police station, his estranged wife,his landlady, and his friend, Mod. There's also a touch of humor and interesting sidelights -- like some characters that appear in the background consistently throughout an episode -- more for human interest than anything else because they have nothing really to do with the story line. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and intend to look for Series 2 next. I won't share more because I don't want to give away any plot lines.

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"The Manual of Detection"

This novel by Jedediah Berry is one of the most unique mysteries I've read in a very long time. It is so strange, though, that there were times I thought about just returning it to the library's "best picks" shelf without finishing it. Although it was slow going (I wasn't able to just sit down and read it in a few hours.), I just couldn't give up on it for some reason and by the time I neared the end, I no longer wanted to. Charles Unwin is a clerk at a large detective agency with very segregated departments. Detective Travis Sivart is his charge -- the man he compiles details about -- determining what facts from Sivart's cases will be saved for prosperity in the archives. When he accidentally has direct contact with Detective Sivart (forbidden by agency rules), Charles Unwin's life is turned upside down and he himself is promoted to Detective without a clue as to why or as to what that entails. This is where his adventure begins and where he meets a host of new characters while trying to unravel a mystery along the way. I found the conclusion so satsifactory that it was worth wading my way through the book's beginning.

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"Wit's End"

Although I didn't read Karen Joy Fowler's "The Jane Austen Book Club," I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and have viewed it many times. In fact, I own a copy so I can watch it whenever I want. So...when I spied "Wit's End" at the library, I decided I must read this other book by Fowler.

The story revolves around Rima Lanisell who arrives in California to meet (and stay with for an extended period of time)her legendary godmother (a famous author) as well as recover from a series of personal losses in her life -- most recently her brother and father. The house inhabitants (a housekeeper in addition to the godmother) and its regular visitors are an unusual group of characters. As it turns out, Rima also has a hidden agenda in getting to know her famous godmother -- to gain more information about her father and what, if any, his relationship was with this woman. Along the way she discovers a lot about her godmother and the people she interacts with on a regular basis. I found the story a little difficult to really get into at times but persevered to the end and was highly satisfied with how all the loose ends were resolved. (It had a bit of a mystery within a mystery aspect to solve.) Do I recommend this book -- I'm not really sure. How's that for a very vague review?!

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"Murder Most English"

Murder Most English

My spouse and I found this DVD (based on the book by Colin Watson) at our local library and we found it a delightful mystery series for two date nights! There seem to be a lot of evildoers in Flaxborough and they keep Detective Inspector Purbright and his assistant, Detective Sergeant Love busy solving cases. Detective Purbright has a laid back but persistant method of solving cases and even occasionally gets unsolicited help from a Ms. Teatime.

"True Colors"

This novel by Kristin Hannah is an indepth and insightful look at complicated family relationships -- between sisters, fathers and daughters, sons and fathers, sons and mothers, spouses, and lovers. It's about a miscarriage of justice and the incredible hardship and grief it brings to a family as well as rifts among family members on opposite sides of an issue. As is often the case with siblings, each sister finds her own unique way of dealing with her childhood loss and the coping skills she acquires translate to the type of life she builds for herself as an adult and the way she deals with future losses. The book, though, is also about healing relationships and accepting relationships that can't be healed or changed. It's about being there for one another when it really counts.

The author acknowledges "the various Innocence Projects around the country who fight for justice one case at a time." To learn more about Kristin Hannah and the other books she's written, go to www.kristinhannah.com.

"Death of an Outsider"

This third book in the Constable Hamish Macbeth mystery series by M. C. Beaton was a quick afternoon read. Macbeth has been loaned out to Cnothan while their constable and his wife take a lengthy holiday. The local folk tend to be a little cool towards outsiders but Macbeth is able to thaw a few out and make some friends. Things heat up when a murder occurs. The victim has made so many enemies that there are no lack of suspects. As usual, Detective Chief Inspector Blair and his staff arrive to take over the case but it is Macbeth who solves it in the end while juggling a local romance. Is this the end of his pining for Prescilla Halburton-Smythe? You'll have to read it to find out!

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Detective Inspector Bill Slider

I discovered a new detective series last summer on my library's recommended reading shelf. The Detective Inspector Bill Slider series (www.billslider.com) is authored by Englishwoman, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, who writes with humor and well developed characters.

Her hero, London's Detective Inspector Bill Slider, has a very interesting life outside his profession of solving crimes. I always look forward to reading the next book in the series not only to solve a murder but to see what's happening in Slider's personal life so I highly recommend reading them in order.

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has a way of writing that brings her characters to life. My biggest challenge is sometimes figuring out her English humor. That's when I resort to contacting my daughter in England and/or her British husband for help translating from English to American. We may share a common language but what a world of difference at times!

The first book in the series is "Orchestrated Death" where investigating the murder of a beautiful violinist leads Slider and his partner, Atherton,as far afield as Birmingham and disrupts Slider's home life.

The second book, "Death Watch," has Slider and Atherton investigating the death of a man in a fire that may have links to a 20-year-old homicide.

The third book, "Necrochip" (also known as "Death to Go"), provides additional challenges for Slider. While he investigates a murder that takes him to Hammersmith and Notting Hill, he has to deal with a change in supervision back at the station.

The fourth book, "Dead End" (also known as "Grave Music"), takes Slider back to the world of music when he and Atherton investigate a death at the Royal London Philharmonic.

The fifth book, "Blood Lines," keeps Slider in the music world when he investigates the death of a music critic and tries to prevent another murder.

The sixth book, "Killing Time," finds Slider solving the murder of an erotic dancer without Atherton's help because Atherton is in the hospital recovering from an injury sustained while working their last case.

The seventh book, "Shallow Grave," gives us a glimpse into Slider's interest in old homes when he investigates the death of a woman at a famous historian's home.

The eighth book, "Blood Sinister," is the investigation of the death of a journalist who championed the underdog and attacked the police whenever she could. She had enemies in high places who don't want Slider digging too deep.

In the ninth book, "Gone Tomorrow," Slider investigates a death on a children's playground in Shepherd's Bush and becomes involved with all kinds of unsavory and very scary characters as he attempts to solve this murder and the subsequent murders it spawns. At the point of exhaustion due to lack of sleep, Slider has even less time to deal with his increasingly complicated personal life.

The tenth book, "Dear Departed," has Slider investigating the death of a young woman found murdered in a park in broad daylight while the park was full of people. While trying to find out more about the victim, he discovers she led a complicated life - both in terms of her work, her private life, and her family. Was her death that of a notorious serial killer or something else?

The eleventh book, "Game Over," has Slider in the middle of solving a high profile murder that, for once, the major case squad does not want to take off his hands to solve themselves, Slider has his hands full. With his boss and his whole department behind him, he sets out to solve the case while trying to thwart the attempts of a crazed escaped convict threatening violence against him and his family. This English whodunit gets my vote!

The twelfth book is "Fell Purpose."

These books are also available in "Omnibus" versions.

"Bill Slider Omnibus" contains the first three books; "The Second Bill Slider Omnibus" contains the next three books; "The Third Bill Slider Omnibus" has books 7 and 8 while "The Fourth Bill Slider Omnibus" has books 9 and 10.

"Blonde Roots"

"Blonde Roots," a novel by Bernardine Evaristo, is an innovative view of the slave trade and asks the question: What if it were Africans who had enslaved Europeans? What would the slave trade have looked like in that scenario? Evaristo creates a believable,clever,and satirical story following the life of Doris, a young girl kidnapped in England. As the story unfolds, we discover what happened to Doris from the time of her capture to adulthood. We also eventually learn what happened to the parents and sisters she left behind -- a thought-provoking read.

pazt

"Disquiet"

This small paperback book by Julia Leigh was given 3 stars in a Good Reads book review and the author is praised by Toni Morrison for her "deft prose." I would agree with the 3 star assessment. "Disquiet" was a quick read but I found it a little depressing. It is a book about abusive relationships and is filled with loss -- loss of missed opportunities, loss of relationships, and loss of life.

Julie Leigh has also written "The Hunter" which I may or may not decide to read. The San Francisco Chronicle calls "The Hunter" "a memorable debut...."

pazt

"I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced"

I recently read this paperback book that I picked up from my library's "Best Bets" shelf. I think I expected that it might be a hard book to read but I found it very uplifting due to Nujood's spirit and determination.

I suspect a group of people or book club members could debate the morality of what may be typical in Yemen where Nujood lives but I try to remind (and caution) myself that cultures are different and I try to suspend judgement (not always an easy thing to do).

In Nujood's world it is not unusual for girls to be married at the age of 9. What is unusual is for a girl of that age to decide she will no longer put up with the abuse she is suffering at the hands of her husband and his family and she begins to reach out to find ways to get out of the situation. It is due to her determination and the assistance of an able female attorney and some sympathetic male judges that she became the first child bride in Yemen to win a divorce. She comes from a very poor family and education is suspended early in most families -- particularly for females -- but she is receiving assistance to continue her education and wants to become an attorney. Despite the anger of her father and brothers at the "shame" she has brought to her family, she continues to live at home.

There is a Reading Group Guide in the paperback version I read as well as some information on donating to help fund education for girls likes Najood.

On November 10, 2008, Nujood (at age 10 the youngest divorcee in the world) was named a Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine - a well-deserved honor she shares with Nicole Kidman, Condoleeza Rice, Hillary Clinton as well as others.

pazt

"The Titan's Curse"

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief / The Sea of Monsters / The Titan's Curse / The Battle of the Labyrinth (4 Volume Set)"The Titan's Curse" is Book 3 in author Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson & The Olympians" series. Although these are "teen" books, I have found them to be fun and fast reads. As in Book 2 ("The Sea of Monsters"), new characters are introduced and a "cliff hanger" of sorts at the end leaves me wanting to read on to Book 4. To learn more about Rick Riordan and these books as well as his adult mystery series, visit his web site at www.rickriordan.com.

12/05/10

Dear Readers,
Despite posting about having read this book, I totally forgot I had read it and just re-read it because I felt I was missing something. As I read it, parts of it seemed like I had read them before and parts felt like I'd never read them so.....is my memory going? Whatever, it was an even better read the second time around!

pazt

"The Yiddish Policemen's Union"

This large novel by Michael Chabon (chosen by my book club as the September read) is one of the ten books he currently has authored. He is also the Pulitzer Prize winning author of "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" which one of my fellow book club members had read and she said it is a completely different read from "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" and she did recommend it.

As another book club member commented, "The Yiddish Policemn's Union" is a novel rich in detail. I found it a good read but I sometimes had difficulty keeping up with all the players as well as all the clues to the mystery (or mysteries within mysteries)because there was so much detail. I had clues throughout the book that could have helped me solve the murder mystery but, because they were scattered throughout the book and amidst all the details, I sometimes lost track of the clues. If they came up again, I had to search back to read about how they were first referenced.

I did like it well enough that I got halfway through the book and pulled my trick of skimming ahead to see how it ended then returning to read it in detail and fill in the gaps I'd missed by skimming. I didn't find it a particularly quick read -- maybe because of all the details -- but I would read more by this author. He took liberties in this novel with historical data and did an excellent job of setting up an "alternate world" that I found so believable that at times I was asking myself (and my spouse) if it were really true - Did it really happen that way!?

pazt

"The Last Child"

The latest novel by John Hart (Steel Dagger and two-time Edgar-Award winning author of three New York Times bestsellers)is one I didn't want to put down once I started reading it. When I got sleepy, I reluctantly put it down but found myself wide awake at 4:30a.m. ready to start in on it again. In order (finally!) to get some sleep, I skipped through the remaining book to see what happened but still went back the next day to finish reading it line by line to fill in the details I'd missed. Thank goodness for a three day holiday weekend! The plot has well developed characters and is full of twists and turns that all come together at the book's conclusion and, if you've been reading my posts, you'll know this is one of my favorite type of reads.

The Washington Post has this to say about the book: "A magnificent creation, Huck Finn channeled through "Lord of the Flies."

Other sources compare Hart and/or his characters to those of Salinger, Dickens, John Grisham, William Faulkner, and Cormac McCarthy. Otto Penzler writing for the New York Sun suggests "If you value Harper Lee, James Lee Burke, Truman Capote and Michael Malone, you'll want to add John Hart to your bookshelf."

If you would like to learn more about John Hart and his books, go to his web site at www.johnhartfiction.com. I definitely want to read more of his work! I picked this book up at my local library on the "Best Bets" shelf but it is available in paperback if you prefer to own a copy.

If you decide to recommend this to your book club, discussion guides are available at www.readinggroupgold.com.

pazt

Everything Here Is The Best Thing Ever

When I picked up this collection of short stories by Justin Taylor at my local library, the title intrigued me plus it was on the table of "good picks" so I thought it would be worth checking out. However, I didn't follow Nancy Pearl's guideline and stop reading at the appropriate number of pages for my age. Perhaps it was because it was a collection of short stories and I kept hoping I would find a redeemable one in the lot. Maybe it's the fact that Taylor is younger than my youngest child but I just didn't "get" the characters in his stories or even what passed for a plot but perhaps these stories appeal to a younger audience. When I went to his web site this morning (www.justintaylor.net) to see if I could learn more about what else he has written, it said "Nothing Here to See."

According to the bio on the back of this paperback book, Taylor has written a variety of fiction and nonfiction stories and been published in some well-known journals and magazines as well as being featured on web sites. He's currently working on his first novel but I doubt that it will be one that catches my interest!

pazt

Nancy Pearl and Sarah Strohmeyer

Several years ago I heard Nancy Pearl (Seattle librarian, author, public speaker,and much more!)speak at a Friends of the Library meeting at the Mukilteo, WA, library. I will never forget her recommendation: Subtract your age from 100 and that is how many pages of a book to read before giving yourself permission to stop reading that particular book. Since I'm one of those individuals who has a hard time putting a book aside because I think I "ought" to finish it, this has become a useful tool for me. I find myself even ignoring the "rule" on occasion and quitting before the recommended number of pages!

Nancy is a voracious reader and most of her books are recommendations of books she's read. The first one I was aware of was titled, "Book Lust." which I thought was extremely clever. If you want more information about Nancy Pearl and her career as well as her books, visit: http://www.nancypearl.com/biography.html

So....I am a fan of Sarah Strohmeyer's Bubbles Yablonsky character and there is a series of "Bubbles" books. As I've mentioned before, I like to read a series in order but, when I was at the library, I couldn't remember how far I'd actually gotten into the "Bubbles" series so I picked up Strohmeyer's "The Penny Pinchers Club" as it seemed to be a "stand-alone" book. I made it 95 pages into the large print edition before invoking Nancy's rule because the book just couldn't hold my interest. I'm surprised at how hard it was to let it go, though -- maybe because I do like the "Bubbles" series so well?

Although I found "The Penny Pinchers Club" kind of boring, I enjoy the Bubbles series because I like mysteries plus they're funny -- always a good combination for me!

pazt

"It's Complicated"

When I saw this movie (written and directed by Nancy Meyers) in the theater, I thoroughly enjoyed it so I picked up a copy of the DVD at the library for date night to share it with my spouse. Meryl Streep, as usual, puts in a superb performance portraying the ex-wife of Alec Baldwin's character.

John Krasinski, who plays the fiance of their oldest daughter, made a real impression on me. Although all of the actors/actresses in this film could say a lot with facial expressions, I thought he really did an outstanding job. I looked up his bio and was surprised to see how many films he has to his credit. He plays Ben in "The Holiday" and I have seen this movie (in our home DVD library) many times and have no clue who "Ben" is so I'll be looking for him when I watch it again.

Steve Martin rounds out this cast in a story about family relationships, divorce, regrets, dating and more. Although it is full of comedy, it still takes on some serious questions. Is it really that easy to throw away fifteen years of marriage, leave your wife and three children, and start a new family, without wondering if you maybe made the wrong choice? Wouldn't we all sometimes like to have a "do-over" and what would we learn if we had that opportunity? Would we make the same choice again or would we do it differently next time?

pazt

"Death of a Cad"

This second Hamish Macbeth mystery by M. C. Beaton brings Priscilla Halburton-Smythe home from London with her playwright fiance to a weekend engagement party hosted by her parents. When a guest is murdered, Constable Hamish Macbeth (himself smitten with Priscilla) must investigate and has a number of titled guests as suspects. I found it a quick and fun read.

pazt

Leap Year

I missed seeing this movie when it was in the theater earlier this year so I checked it out from our local library and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has humor, romance, and beautiful scenery as well as some great lines.

Before we get to those lines, though, let's talk about another idea from the movie -- not new to me because I remember it being part of a study group I was once part of many years ago.....If your house were on fire and you had only 60 seconds to grab what was most important to you, what would you take with you? There is a scene in the movie that brings home how important this can be to evaluating current relationships plus (in my opinion) it's also a great thought to ponder.

Now for some of those favorite lines of mine from the movie: Although I may not have gotten the quotes written down exactly, they're close enough to give you an idea.....

"Always kiss like it's the first time and the last time."
Isn't this a great way to keep love alive in a relationship?!

Wedding toast from bride to groom:

"May you never Cheat, Lie, or Steal but,
If you must Steal, then Steal away my sorrows;
If you must Lie then, Lie with me all the nights of my life; and
If you must Cheat, then Cheat death because I could never live without you."
(Beautiful sentiments to begin and to live a marriage.)

Advice from father to daughter:

"...the only thing that is really important....Live without regrets. Life is too short to do any differently."

A perfect ending: Go LIVE WITHOUT REGRETS!!!!

pazt

Jane Austen Every Day and Every Way

Last night was our monthly book club meeting--always a highlight of the month for me! When I suggested we read Jane Austen (also meaning I would lead the discussion), I didn't specify a particular Jane Austen book but recommended members pick one they'd like to read. As I was preparing for the monthly meeting, I began to regret that decision because I thought I then should read each and every one myself! However, time did not permit me to do that.

My spouse and I have been Jane Austen fans for years but mostly through BBC and other DVD versions of her books and "date night" frequently finds us watching a Jane Austen DVD. In preparation for book club, I purchased paperback Dover editions of "Emma," "Mansfield Park," "Northanger Abbey," and "Sense and Sensibility" then checked out a hard copy of "Pride and Prejudice" and a paperback copy of "Persuasion" from our library. I love Dover Thrift Editions because they have beautifully illustrated covers and are reasonably priced -- in this case from $3.00 to $4.50.

I was now ready to begin reading but I found the demands of daily life were interfering with my reading time. What to do? I checked out audio copies of all the books from the library but there still wasn't enough time to listen to all of the books so I ended up listening to most of "Persuasion" one day then finished the last few chapters by reading the book. I started listening to "Sense and Sensibility" but wasn't able to finish all of it. I loved discovering little things that were different from the DVD's we've watched.

My spouse suggested we start watching one version of each movie on the 4-5 nights before book club then I read parts of each book to see how different the book was from the movie. Surprisingly, the movies seem to include most of the actual quotations from the books but often have to be shortened, of course, to make for a good viewing length.

My spouse read "Northanger Abbey" as did one of the other males in our book club. My husband likens the heroine in that book to "Little Red Riding Hood" because of her naivete about the world in general. Everyone else chose to read either "Sense and Sensibility" or "Pride and Prejudice" and it was an evening of lively discussion.

I have to admit that "Pride and Prejudice" is probably my personal favorite. My hardback library copy had a chronology of Austen's life along with some of her contemporaries and world events of each year and I found that very interesting. It was so interesting, in fact, that I did further on-line research about her cousin, Eliza de Feuillide, whose French Army Captain husband was guillotined in 1794 after only thirteen years of marriage. She took her sickly son and returned to England where she eventually married one of Jane's brothers. I also researched "The Reign of Terror" in France and the Spithead and Nore mutinies lead by sailors of the English Royal Navy in 1797. Jane Austen writes about the world she knows and lives in and the distinct class consciousness as well as illustrating how little rights women of that time had and how dependent they were on marrying well. I'm sure her stories were also impacted by what was happening in the greater world which was what lead me to research some of those events mentioned in this chronology.

Reading guides are also available on line which list the characters in each book and a summary of each story. One of our book club members found a diagram on wikipedia of the characters in "Pride and Prejudice" and how they are related throughout the story which is fascinating. There are so many ways to experience and learn about Austen's books!

In addition to Jane Austen, I'd recommend watching "The Jane Austen Book Club" as I found it an excellent way to introduce and interest me in Jane's books. (It's also available in book form.)

For his birthday my spouse ordered himself a complete set of the BBC Jane Austen DVD's that we have yet to start watching so it will continue to be a Jane Austen festival in our house for days, months, and years to come!

pazt

"Deep Survival - Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why"

This book by Laurence Gonzales explores why some individuals survive accidents or catastrophic events against all odds while others die - sometimes because they made a wrong choice.

Although I struggled through Part One -- except for the anecdotal stories, I found wisdom in "The Rules of Life" that the author and his eldest daughter came up with when she was only six years old:

Rule 1: "Be here now." The author sees this one as a good survival rule because paying attention to the here and now also involves keeping an up-to-date mental model which can make a huge difference in whether one survives or not.

Rule 2: "Everything takes eight times as long as it's supposed to." In survival terms this can mean being adaptable and not getting caught up in sticking with a plan that might not make sense in the current situation.

At the top of page 88 in Chapter Six, Gonzales discusses how elite performers train hard so when novices go into the wilderness, they need to train hard,too. Novices will face the same challenges experts do but nature won't adjust to their level of skill -- or lack of skill.

Chapter Eight is entitled "Danger Zones" and makes the case for consulting locals when you're in new territory before venturing into a situation that might look innocuous but could actually have some elements of danger that a local might forewarn you about.

Part Two is titled "Survival" and this is where the book really became more engrossing for me because it gives mostly examples of real life situations and why some individuals survived and others did not. There is a paragraph here that really spoke to me because this book is not just about surviving major events but it also offers good advice for living and surviving life -- deaths, divorce, etc.

On page 157, the author writes, "Being lost, then, is not a location; it is a transformation. It is a failure of the mind. It can happen in the woods or it can happen in life. People know that instinctively. A man leaves a perfectly good family for a woman half his age and makes a mess of it, and people say, he got off the path, he lost his way. If he doesn't get back on, he'll lose the self,too. A corporation can do the same thing."

Gonzales then goes on to talk about five general stages in the process that a person goes through when lost:

Stage 1) Deny you're disoriented and press on with growing urgency trying to make your mental map fit what you're actually seeing.

Stage 2) Next you realize you're really lost so the urgency blossoms into a full-scale survival emergency. "Clear thought becomes impossible and action becomes frantic, unproductive, even dangerous."

Stage 3) This is usually after an injury or exhaustion, "you expend the chemicals of emotion and form a strategy for finding some place that matches the mental map. (It is a misguided strategy, for there is no such place now. You are lost.)"

Stage 4) "....you deteriorate both rationally and emotionally, as the strategy fails to resolve the conflict."

Stage 5) "...you run out of options and energy, you must become resigned to your plight. Like it or not, you must make a new mental map of where you are. You must become Robinson Crusoe or you will die. To survive, you must find yourself. Then it won't matter where you are."

At the bottom of page 162 the author talks about the Zen concept of the beginner's mind, "the mind that remains open and ready despite years of training. 'In the beginner's mind there are many possibilies,' said Zen master Shunryu Suzuki. 'In the expert's mind there are few.'" This might explain why some novices survive and some skilled adventurers do not!

Laurence Gonzales is himself a "veteran adventurer" and shares from his and his family's own personal experiences of survival. For more, go to www.deepsurvival.com.

pazt

Pennies

I often ponder the value of pennies -- worth so little these days. When I was a child (probably dating myself now, aren't I?), a penny could purchase a stamped post card at the post office or bubble gum as well as a myriad of other items. I think my favorite candy bar was five pennies! Now a penny won't even cover the sales tax and I'm always trying to spend pennies so my coin purse won't be full of them.

A couple of weeks ago when my daughter and I were taking her two younger children to a morning children's concert in a local park, we were walking with them from the parking lot to the concert setting. My daughter was a little ahead and had her 5 year old daughter with her. I was walking behind with her 3 year old son and he became upset because he'd seen some money on the ground and we'd walked past it.

Well, the four of us made a detour back but couldn't find the money so I told him when we were situated on our blanket, I'd find some money in my coin purse for him. Of course, as often happens with siblings, his sister also wanted some money. When I opened my coin purse, I only had four pennies so I divided the coins between them. My granddaughter immediately began talking about going to the mall to spend her pennies and my daughter and I (thinking we'd greatly disappoint her) had to let her know that she really wouldn't be able to buy anything at the mall with two pennies.

Oh, the resilience and wonder of children! We'd forgotten about the fountain located in the middle of the mall where you can toss coins to benefit charities. Both grandchildren knew exactly where they were going to "spend" their pennies -- in the fountain.

Wouldn't it be nice to retain that small child excitement and delight as adults to enable us to see the wonder and positive in all situations!

pazt

"The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" - an eclipse novella

This new book by Stephenie Meyer, the author of the bestselling Twilight saga books, is about a minor vampire character in the Eclipse novel. I thought it was clever that $1.00 from each book sold is being donated to the American Red Cross.

My younger daughter introduced me to "The Twilight Saga" - a series of four novels by Meyer. Three of them have already hit the big screen in movie form with "Eclipse" being the latest one and just released this summer. I loved the books and enjoyed this novella but not as much as the other four books written by Meyer and set in Forks, WA.

The movies have incredible special effects and, if you're a fan of vampire stories --which seem to be all the rage these days -- I think you'll enjoy them.

pazt

"Curse of the Spellmans" by Lisa Lutz

Lisa Lutz has done it again in her sequel to "The Spellman Files." Private Investigator Isabel (Izzy) Spellman returns with her wacky family to provide more entertainment. As I try to read these books in bed, I'm shaking the bed with laughter. Fortunately, I have an understanding spouse who attempts (reasonably well it seems) to sleep through my late night reading. Once again Izzy jumps to some erroneous conclusions while trying to solve a mystery but she's lucky to have Police Inspector Henry Stone and her younger sister, Rae, to get her back on track.

Good News! The first book is being adapted as a movie by Paramount Pictures. I can hardly wait to see the Spellmans on the big screen!

In the meantime, I have some other books to read to prepare for the August meeting of my book club. Since I'm leading the discussion, I will have to wait to read "Revenge of the Spellmans!"

pazt

"All The Queen's Players" by Jane Feather

This historical fiction novel set in sixteenth-century England is well-written and entertaining. Rosamund Walsingham, a young woman ignored by her older brothers for the most part after the deaths of her parents,is allowed to pretty much live her own life as she chooses in the family's simple country home. It's no wonder that she makes a misstep or two when she is brought to the attention of her cousin, Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State. He decides it would be helpful to place his young cousin in Queen Elizabeth's court. When one of her "missteps" finds her out of favor with the Queen, Sir Francis manages to "banish" her to Mary, Queen of Scots, as his spy to assist in bringing down the downfall and subsequent death of this imprisoned Queen. Although Rosamund is a fictional character, many others in this book including Sir Francis Walsingham and Christopher (Kit) Marlowe are not. Jane Feather brings these characters, real and imagined, to life and shows what it was like to be a young woman (often used as pawns in family intrigues)in this time period. The papterback version I read includes a Readers club Guide as well as author notes.

pazt

"Gran Torino"

If you, like me and my spouse, thought you didn't want to see this Clint Eastwood movie, please rethink your position. After several of our book club friends recommended this movie to us, we decided to pick up a copy at our local library to view. Wow! What a movie! I won't spoil the story by telling you more but be prepared for relationship transformations. ( This is my second viewing of this DVD and, if you'd like more details, you will find them in my April 29th posting.) If you're a car buff, you may also enjoy watching the "Special Features."

pazt

"Beat The Reaper"

This debut novel by Josh Bazell has received a lot of good reviews. He is certainly well qualified to write with a B.A. in English literature and writing from Brown University. What's surprising to me is how he found time to pen this novel while completing his medical internship.

Although I found the book entertaining, I had a little difficulty at times with some of the more gruesome details of the story. It's certainly a novel premise for a mystery with the lead character being Dr. Peter Brown, an intern at a New York hospital who has a rather shady past which he must confront in the course of an 8 hour day! I picked it up off the "favorites" shelf at my local library and it was a quick read for me because the story hooked me early on.

pazt

"Game Over" -- a Detective Inspector Bill Slider Mystery

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has done it again with a new Detective Inspector Bill Slider mystery - kept me entertained and wishing for more. I think she only has one other book written in this series that I haven't read so I'm hoping she's busy writing another one!

In the middle of solving a high profile murder that, for once, the major case squad does not want to take away from him to solve themselves, Slider has his hands full. With his boss and his whole department behind him, he sets out to solve the case while trying to thwart the attempts of a crazed escaped convict threatening violence against him and his family. This English whodunit gets my vote!

pazt

"A Beautiful Place To Die"

This first novel by Malla Nunn is set in 1950's apartheid South Africa and is the first in a series of books by her featuring Detective Emmanuel Cooper. Malla is a filmmaker with three award-winning films.

Detective Cooper is a complex character with demons of his own which Nunn hints at and slowly unfolds without yet giving us the whole story -- which I expect we'll learn progressively in her future books in this series.

Detective Cooper is sent to investigate the murder of an Afrikaner police officer then has the case taken out of his hands by a higher authority -- the powerful police Security Branch. Although Cooper is told to stay out of this investigation, he is allowed to investigate an old unsolved case of the murdered police officer. His dogged pursuit of the perpetrator in that case has him smack in the middle of the case he's been told to stay out of!

As Cooper learns more and more about the private life of the murdered man, we also learn what it was like to live in apartheid South Africa so, in some senses, this mystery is also a historical novel.

pazt

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress (A Memoir of Going Home) by Rhoda Janzen

Rhoda Janzen's memoir of the breakdown of her marriage is insightful and humorous. She proves that you can go home again when you have a supportive and loving family. Although they may not always understand the choices she's made in her life, they're there for her when she needs them.

I grew up in a community that was predominantly Mennonite and Catholic and I was neither. What I know (and think I have always known) about Mennonites is their goodness as well as their willingness to help others in need -- family or not. Rhoda's memoir just reinforced that belief for me.

This was one of my favorite reads this year and Rhoda's interactions with her mother had me laughing so hard at times that I couldn't talk!

pazt

"One Good Turn" by Kate Atkinson

Once again Kate Atkinson has created a novel with well developed characters (personal lives, too) and lots of twists and turns. This murder mystery is the second in the Jackson Brodie series after "Case Histories." It is in this story that Jackson Brodie meets Det. Sgt. Louise Monroe for the first time and they're reunited in the third book, "When Will There Be Good News?" This seems to be a theme with Atkinson because some of the key players in "Case Histories" show up in this second book, too.

Jackson Brodie has a great line in this book, "...And I don't believe in coincidence,.....A Coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen."

As in her other two books, Atkinson takes a cast of characters seemingly unrelated and unfolds a tale that has them all connected in some way by the end of the book -- a fascinating read.

pazt

"Death of a Gossip"

This "whodunit" by M. C. Beaton is set in the wilds of Scotland where a diverse group have gathered to attend a fishing school. When one of the guests is murdered, the local village constable, Hamish MacBeth, is deemed not experienced enough to investigate the case so Detective Chief Inspector Blair along with two assistants arrive to solve the murder. In the meantime, despite being told by Blair to stay out of the case, MacBeth quietly does his own investigation to successfully find the murderer. He has a little help from Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, the daughter of a local landowner who is not at all pleased at the interest the local constable is showing in his daughter.

This is the first in a series of Hamish MacBeth mysteries (Copyright 1985) written by Marion Chesney (an author of historical romances) writing under the pseudonym M. C. Beaton. There appear to be 27 Hamish MacBeth books. I found a paperback copy of this book at my local library and it has a label on the outside which states, "The condition of this book may not be typical of ....Libraries quality. New copies of this out of print title are not available."

Initially, I had difficulty following all the characters and had to paper clip the Cast of Characters list at the start of the book so I could refer back to it often. Otherwise, it was a quick and fun read and I'm looking for the next book in the series.

pazt