"Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead"

"Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead" is Livia J. Washburn's first mystery in her new Literary Tour mystery series.  Newly divorced red-headed and hot-tempered Delilah Dickenson is opening her own literary travel agency in Atlanta but her first group tour runs into a little difficulty -- namely murder!  The "Gone With The Wind" tour started in Atlanta then moved to a plantation modeled after Tara (from "Gone With the Wind") where they are staying overnight and attending a ball.  However, the overnight stay is prolonged when the police arrive after the actor playing Rhett Butler is murdered.  In the meantime, some of the guests are complaining of thefts of personal items and Delilah begins to see her new business venture not going so well.  As if that weren't enough, she's also responsible for chaperoning her twin teenage nieces - a full-time occupation at times by itself!

When Delilah becomes concerned that the police are pointed in the wrong direction, she decides it's time to do a little sleuthing herself and finds herself assisted by Dr.Will Burke, a local college professor who specializes in history and literature.  Although Delilah is not interested in a romantic entanglement so soon after her divorce, she does find herself attracted to the handsome Dr. Burke and he proves to be an extremely valuable sleuthing partner.

Will Delilah be able to successfully solve the petty thefts as well as the murder and save her new livelihood?  pazt

"Murder By The Slice"

"Murder By The Slice" is the second book in Livia J. Washburn's Fresh Baked mystery series.  Retired and widowed schoolteacher, Phylis Newsom, and her friends are roped into helping at an elementary school  fund-raising carnival.  What they didn't realize was that they'd have to work with Shannon Dunston, the president of the elementary school's parent-teacher organization.  She treats the committee members like they're her personal slaves dishing out orders but no praise.  When Shannon ends up dead at the carnival, there are plenty of suspects and Phyllis worries she might be one of them so sets out to find out who committed the murder with the help of one of her boarders, Sam.  She and Sam seem to be developing quite a rapport making me wonder whether romance might be in the air between them in future books in this series.  Washburn writes easy-to-read mysteries that include recipes so they're a good bet when I want a "light" mystery and a quick read.  pazt  

"The Lilac House"

Anita Nair's "The Lilac House" is a novel set in Bangalore.  It begins with Meera's story -- a corporate wife, a cookbook author, a mother of two who is also responsible for running a household that includes her mother and grandmother.  When her husband abandons her, she is bewildered and waits for his return. 

Meanwhile, Professor J. A. Krishnamurthy -- known simply as Jak or Professor Jak -- has returned to Bangalore, India, from Florida to care for his nineteen-year-old daughter who has had some type of accident and is comatose.  He also wants to discover what happened to his daughter but the police will not help him and every possible clue appears to lead to a dead end.  How will he find the truth?

As Meera realizes her husband is not returning and she needs more income to support her household, her path crosses that of Professor Jak and together they discover truths about the past, the future, foregiveness, redemption, and second chances.

I found this at the library on the "Best Bets" shelf and renewed it several times before finally picking it up to read.  By the time I did begin, it was seriously overdue and I just couldn't seem to find the desire to read it word for word.  However, I was intrigued enough by the story that I wanted to know what had happened to Jak's daughter and how Meera's life was progressing without her hsuband.  So....I skimmed through the book finding the answers I sought - which is totally out of character for me.  Although it was a good story, I'm not sure if I'll choose to read another one of Nair's books or not.  Her story, "Mistress," was longlisted for the 2008 Orange Prize in the UK and also named a finalist for the 2007 PEN/Beyond Margins Award in the U.S. so perhaps I'll give it a try.  If you want to learn more about the author, go to www.anitanair.net.  pazt

"The Poyson Garden"

"The Poyson Garden" is the first in Karen Harper's Elizabeth I mysteries and shows great promise for those to follow (9 books in the series from 1999 to 2007).

In "The Poyson Garden" Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn and King Henry, has been sent into exile during her half sister "Bloody" Mary's reign.  In her country home she is watched closely by Thomas Pope and his wife, Bea -- both loyal to Queen Mary and there to spy on Elizabeth and report back to the Queen.  However, she has those close to her to watch over and aid her.  There is Kat who has served as her mother since her own mother, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded when Elizabeth was three -- for refusing to admit that Elizabeth was a bastard child and not the daughter of Anne and King Henry.  There is also Jenks, her loyal manservant who is able to come and go more freely than Elizabeth herself.

When Elizabeth learns Mary Boleyn, her mother's sister who she thought was already dead, is on her deathbed, she makes plans to secretly visit her with the help of Kat who informs the Popes that Elizabeth is in bed with a headache - a common occurrence for Elizabeth.  While visiting Mary, Elizabeth meets her cousin who has been living in exile in Europe and has come home to be with his dying mother.  While riding there in secret, he and his manservant are attacked and his servant dies from the poison arrows in his body but her cousin escapes.  This leads to the unraveling of a plot to attack and kill Elizabeth and she must find the poisoner or become a victim herself and never able to sit on the throne.

In the meantime, Elizabeth learns that Queen Mary has been killing Protestants loyal to her so everyone who supports her continue to be in danger but Queen Mary is also said to be dying from a stomach tumor.  Can Elizabeth find the poisoner and stop her or him and eventually become Queen herself and take England, Scotland, and Ireland back from Queen Mary's Spanish husband and others robbing its coffers and threatening her subjects?

It's a very well written historical mystery with Elizabeth as a strong heroine.  I can't wait to read the next book in this series.  pazt

"Pie In The Sky"

"Pie In The Sky" British detective series -- how did my spouse and I miss this one?!  We were watching another British detective series in recent months and saw a trailer for this one and don't remember it ever being on a U. S. public broadcasting channel -- or we missed it!  We checked out series 1 from the library and it's definitely a winner so we've requested the second series.

Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (played by Richard Griffiths of "Harry Potter" and other fame) has been on the force for 25 years and the job is losing its appeal.  What he really wants to do is open a restaurant but his boss, ACC Fisher (played by Malcolm Sinclair), doesn't want him to leave.  (I think he needs Crabbe to keep his good image in place.)  However, Fisher allows him to sort of but not officially retire and open his restaurant, "Pie In The Sky," with the provision  Crabbe has to be available on command when Fisher needs his assistance.

Crabbe's wife, Margaret (played by Maggie Steed) is an accountant so she keeps the books for him and an assortment of other characters.  They sell their home and move into a flat above the restaurant and begin a new adventure together -- He's cooking  with an assortment of young people he's gathered as waiters and chef's assistants and she's taking in the money.  Every episode finds him at Fisher's beck and call, however, off to solve some police mystery or other.  It's a lighthearted and fun adventure following Crabbe around and the show presents its characters with a lot of depth.  If you're a fan of British mysteries, check this one out!   pazt

"Daughter of Providence"

"Daughter of Providence" is Julie Drew's first novel (juliedrew.com) and a great start for her.  It's an engrossing story that kept drawing me back to read more even though I knew I should be moving on to tasks on my "to do" list!  It's set in the 1930's and the story is told from the viewpoint of Anne Dodge, who has been raised by her father Samuel and they live in the small town of Mitford, RI, on the coast.  When Anne's younger half-sister, Maria Cristina, is sent to live with her, her whole life changes and everything she had believed true about her, her sister and her parents is called into question.

Anne has been told that her mother left her father when Anne was about 6 for another man and, as a result, Maria Cristina, was born.  Maria Cristina was raised by her Portuguese grandparents after her mother's death then sent to live with Anne after her grandfather (the sole family survivor) died.

Anne has a full life -- She's designed and is in the process of building her own boat that takes up most of her days.  She's also the head of her father's household and has a nightly dinner to prepare.  Although she finds Maria Cristina a bit of a nuisance to living her life the way she prefers, she also is drawn to this sister she had not known.  She feels a pull between being jealous of Maria Cristina's having had so much time with their mother and a desire to learn from her more about her mother.

In the meantime, Will, a local lawyer who she's known all her life, is pressuring her to say yes to marrying her while her father is heavily involved in finding financial backing to reopen the family mill and provide jobs for the townspeople.  Her father turns to Oliver Fielding for the financial backing and Anne finds herself attracted to him despite hearing rumors of the ill treatment (and possible deaths) by men he's hired as "union busters."

As all these events merge and the pot begins to be stirred in Mitford, Anne is faced with some truths about her past and her future finding herself forced to make choices about who she'll include in her life and what and who she'll believe.

pazt

"The Brutal Telling"

"The Brutal Telling" by Louise Penny is the fifth book, I believe, in her Chief Inspector Gamache mystery series.  In the midst of a private conversation with his daughter, Annie, Gamache reluctantly leaves to investigate a murder in Three Pines.  He believed Annie had something troubling her that she wanted to share with him and regrets that his work often interrupts family moments.

It's nearing the end of the long Labor Day weekend when everyone's holidays are over and they return to town but a body has been discovered in the middle of Olivier and Gabri's bistro.  The first task is to identify the man because there is no identity on the body and no one seems to know who he is.  When lies are uncovered, Olivier seems to be the chief suspect.  Will his and Gabri's relationship survive the lies he's kept hidden from his partner as well as his friends in Three Pines?

This is another excellent tale woven by Louise Penny with characters that have so much depth that I feel like I live in Three Pines and they're all my friends.  I can see myself sitting in front of a fireplace in the bistro with a glass of wine and a plate of excellent food.  This is also a novel full of questions.....

Peter Morrow seems to have come to terms with his wife, Clara's about-to-be newfound fame.  However, Clara is faced with a dilemma.  Does she confront Roger Fortin, the man who can bring her fame and fortune, about his unkind and homophobic remarks about her friend, Gabri, and risk losing her chance to be discovered or does she keep quiet?

Ruth Zardo, one of the recurring characters in Three Pines mysteries -- and she is a character even if she is a renowned poet -- is still treating her duck, Rosa, like her child -- dressing her in coats and sweaters to prepare her for the winter ahead.  Will Rosa be willing to stay through the winter or will the call of the wild birds overhead heading south for the winter be too tempting for her?  Will Ruth be able to let her go and is Rosa willing to go?

There's a new family in town, too -- the Gilbert's -- who have totally made over the Hadley house and taken the scene of murders and added new life and light to it.  They plan to open an expensive bed and breakfast and spa.  Will they be accepted by the townspeople?  Do they have secrets to be revealed? 

Don't miss this (or any of the other novels in this series) - I tried to put it down but ended up reading through the night so allow yourself time to immerse yourself in the book and Three Pines when you pick it up. pazt

"After"

"After" edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling is a book of 19 short stories from best-selling and/or award-winning authors who show us what our world might look like if there were a nuclear meltdown, plague, a meteor strike, another World War, a new ice age, or some other disaster.  I have to say that some of these stories are downright weird or too hard to follow but others are full of surprises and I did have some favorites.  My recommendations:  "The Segment" by Genevieve Valentine, "Faint Heart" by Sarah Rees Brennan, "Before" by Carolyn Dunn, and "The Marker" by Cecil Castellucci.  This is also a good way to check out some authors to see if you want to read their novels.  In fact, I've been reading N. K. Jemisin's trilogy and she has a short story, "Valedictorian" in this book.  In the Afterword the editors talk about some classics like Sir Thomas More's "Utopia," Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four," and Suzanne Collins, "The Hunger Games."  I remember reading Orwell in high school and "1984" feels like it has arrived -- maybe I need to revisit that book!  pazt

"Rosemary & Thyme"

My spouse and I decided to revisit the "Rosemary & Thyme" Series one by checking it out from the library.  Although we're pretty sure we'd already seen all six of these episodes (on 3 discs), we enjoyed watching this detecting duo again.  Laura Thyme is a former policewoman who gave up her career for marriage to a fellow policeman and to raising a family.  When her children are grown and her husband leaves her for a much younger woman, she's lucky to meet Rosemary Boxer.  Rosemary is a plant biologist who has just lost her university teaching post when she meets Laura.  While still reeling from her husband's infidelity, Laura can use some female companionship and when she and Rosemary are thrown together during a murder inquiry, they decide to start a business together assisting individuals with their gardening problems.  Often, though, those assignments lead to murder and more detecting for our two amateur sleuths.  Their witty interactions make this series great fun to watch.  pazt

New Tricks - Season One

Season One of the BBC series, "New Tricks" leads off with the formation of UCOS (unsolved crime unit) with Amanda Redmon portraying Sandra Pullman who has very publicly been disgraced in an undercover operation.   Does that mean heading up this unit is a punishment? She's been saddled with former policemen (who will not officially be policemen again) as advisers to assist her in solving the crimes.
The team is composed of Jack Halford (portrayed by James Bolam) who is a grieving widower -- perhaps getting out of the house will be good for him?  Then there is ex-Inspector Brian Lane (portrayed by Alun Armstrong) who is obsessive/compulsive and has the ability to recall every piece of information from the past but his wife, Esther, worries that returning to solving crimes might do in his fragile mental health.  Last, but not least, is Gerry Standing (portrayed by Dennis Waterman) who has been married three times but has managed to maintain a close relationship with all his ex-wives and his daughters and they with each other -- just one big happy family!

This crew of detectives may not be used to modern day detective work nor the fact that the rules of the game have changed but their ability to solve these "cold" cases is uncanny.  However, the season ends with them "cocking" up their most recent case and possibly enabling a murderer to go free.  The team seems to be coming apart as Sandra's chances of a promotion go by the way side and Jack is ready to hand in his resignation.  Brian, the most unstable mentally of them, is in a good place, though, and Gerry is over the top ecstatic about the recent birth of his first grandchild -- a boy joining him in what is otherwise an all girl family.  We're left hanging about the future of UCOS but with several more seasons to be viewed I think I can safely say they're not going away any time soon.

I thoroughly enjoy these characters and the way they go about solving crimes so I can hardly wait to get my hands on a copy of the second season!  pazt

"Daniel's Daughter"

I picked up the DVD, "Daniel's Daughter," starring Laura Leighton (of "Melrose Place") at the local library.  It was billed as a love story and I thought it would be a good date night movie.  Laura plays Katherine, a successful New York magazine editor, who is about to marry her wealthy boss in what is going to be one of the big society events of the year.  However, when her estranged father dies, his last request is for her to spread his ashes in her small Massachusetts home town.  She is still bitter about the fact that her father left her with relatives after her mother's death and she never saw him again so is reluctant to carry out his wishes.  When she decides to take some of her magazine's own advice, however, she finds herself heading off to carry out her father's request accompanied by her assistant but without informing her husband-to-be (who knows nothing about her family).  The trip home is more revealing than she expected and offers new possibilities for her life that she hadn't anticipated.  It is a warm, romantic movie but the frequent "pauses" made my spouse and myself wonder if it wasn't a made-for-tv movie and those pauses were for the commercials.  The pauses were very distracting from the story and left me wishing it had been redone for the DVD without them!  pazt

"Body Line"

"Body Line" is one of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles most recent Bill Slider Mysteries.  Since I usually read all series in order, I was surprised to learn I'd missed this one when I read "Kill My Darling."  I think there is only one more book (came out in 2012) in the series left for me to read -- what a disappointment!  I hope more are in the works. 

In "Body Line" Slider and his team are investigating the death of Dr. David Rogers who was handsome, charming, rich, and had quite a way with the women.  He seemed to have a whole harem of women past and present and an ex-wife so, when he was killed in the hallway of his very expensive home, it might be assumed the motive was passion -- or was it jealousy -- or was it just for money?  However, when more murders are linked to an association with Rogers, the team is kept busy chasing clues all over the country.  What they discover is that the man Rogers was presumed to be may all be a lie -- who was he really and why was he killed?  Those are the questions that must be answered and the path to getting there is full of twists and turns making for a challenging task for Slider's team but leading to a very satisfactory conclusion.  Even if you haven't read any other Bill Slider mysteries, this one would stand on its own and be well worth the read!  pazt

"Broken Kingdoms"

"Broken Kingdoms" is N. K. Jemisin's second book in The Inheritance Trilogy and, like the first book, it took me a little while to get into the book but, once I did, I couldn't put it down.  I asked myself why I have difficulty getting absorbed in these books and I think it is because it is such a different universe and so many players and I seem to have trouble keeping track of the mortals, Gods, Godlings, and demons.  In the case of both books I've forgotten that the author has a glossary of terms in the back of the book which might help me out! 

This book centers around a young blind artist named Oree Shoth who, after her father's death, moves to the city of Shadow in an attempt to hide her abilities.  Her father had warned her that she needed to keep her magic hidden and she tries to follow his advice but, in the heat of a moment, it comes out and endangers not only her life but that of her God lover and his friends as well as her friend, Shiny.  How can that be if Gods are immortal?  You'll have to read the tale that Jemisin has so expertly woven to discover that!

There is an excerpt from the third book in the trilogy at the end of this book and it is intriguing so I'm off to find it.  pazt

"Doc Martin" - Series 4

Doc Martin's life becomes even more complicated after he and Louisa decide not to go through with their wedding and she leaves town.  When Louisa returns very pregnant but not wanting Doc in her life, he takes her at her word.  In the meantime, Dr. Edith Montgomery, a former girlfriend from London, starts work at a local hospital and reenters his life appearing to want to resume their former relationship.  Edith encourages Doc to overcome his phobia about blood and refers him to a specialist in the hopes that he can return to London as a surgeon. As always, Doc has his hands full of unusual cases - He's a great diagnostician and I'm thinking it will be a great loss for Portwenn (and Louisa) if he does take a post in London.

However, Doc does accept the post and packs up his household goods and heads off to London but, on the way out of town, he is called to an emergency which alerts him to the fact that Louisa (on her way to her regular checkup in a taxi) may be in danger.  Will he really be able to leave before his baby is born and can Portwenn do without him?  pazt

"Murder In Suburbia"

BBC America's "Murder in Suburbia" is billed as "Britain's smart, sassy detective duo."  My spouse and I just finished watching Series 1 and 2 starring Carolina Catz (Louisa on "Doc Martin") and Lisa Faulkner who play police detectives Kate "Ash" Ashurst and Emma "Scribbs" Scribbins whose beat is Middleford.  Jeremy Sheffield plays their boss who is always admonishing them to clear their cases up quickly and they're always wondering what he's up to in his private life.  Frankly, I think he has fun keeping them guessing.  Ash and Scribbs make solving murder fun as they wisecrack their way through cases and disect one another's lives -- particularly their love lives -- or lack thereof.  It's beginning to look like Ash might be interested in their boss and I'm curious to see how this may play out in future series -- or is it just to get us to watch to find out!  However, it appears there are no future series - what a disappointment!  pazt

"Lucy"

Laurence Gonzales has written a novel, "Lucy," that is unlike anything I've read before and it kept my attention!  The story begins in the Congo where Jenny Lowe, a primatologist studying bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees), finds herself fleeing for her life in the midst of a civil war.  She runs to the nearest camp where another primatologist has been killed leaving his young daughter, Lucy, an orphan.  She flees with the daughter to safety and eventually takes her home to Chicago with her while a search is made for Lucy's mother by British authorities since she has British citizenship.

Jenny gathered up Lucy's father's journals as they were fleeing his camp and begins to read them and is shocked to discover that Lucy is the daughter of the primatologist and a female bonobo -- an experiment on his part.  By this time Jenny has come to love her and fears for her safety if this information were to come out.  She hides the truth from her long time friend, a doctor, as well as her mother and Lucy's friends. 

Lucy leads a fairly normal life as a teenager in Chicago and bonds with another girl at her school, Amanda, who teaches her what it's like to be a teenager in America.  Lucy's father had educated her well and, at 15, she is able to enter school as a senior.  She and Amanda make plans to go off to college but Lucy senses there is danger as she is able to plug into "The Stream."  She's saddened by the fact that humans are no longer plugged into The Stream because she is able to be in touch with the animals and sense disturbances in The Stream as well as danger. 

When Lucy develops an illness that only animals can catch, it is time for Jenny to put into place some alternative plans she's made with her friend, Donna, who works with bonobos in a zoo in another city.  Lucy senses through The Stream that danger is on its way and has to leave her newfound family and friends behind.  There are risks in fleeing and the ending to this story, while filled with sad events, comes to a very satisfying conclusion.

It also leads to some interesting questions:  Why do we have difficulty accepting that which is different?  Why do we condemn in the name of religion?  Why can't we all be plugged into The Stream?....a fascinating read.
pazt

"Stolen Innocence"

"Stolen Innocence" by Elissa Wall (with Lisa Pulitzer) is her story of growing up in a polygamous sect (FDLS) where she was forced to marry her cousin at age 14.  Although she initially refused to marry, psychological pressure from family and FDLS leaders broke down her resistance and she agreed to the wedding which took place across state lines in Nevada.  After enduring a four year abusive marriage, Wall left the sect with the support of older siblings who had already left.  She also had fallen in love with another member who had himself left the sect and their relationship blossomed into one that led to marriage and two children.

When she was approached by prosecuting attorneys about building a case against Warren Jeffs, the sect leader who had forced her into a marriage at age 14, she was reluctant at first but  agreed after spending time with them and receiving support emotionally and protection for her family.  Her courageous testimony sent Jeffs to jail and her hope is that it will lead to the sect no longer marrying off underage girls.  Proceeds from the book go to the MJ fund she has set up to provide girls and women with options that she didn't have so they can start lives for themselves.   The down side for Wall is that she no longer has contact with her mother and doesn't know where she is and she fears for the two younger sisters she had to leave behind.

This book is a look at the inner workings of the FDLS sect and describes in detail the lack of power that all women have who are members.  They are basically slaves to the men they are given to in marriage and have no recourse if the leader decides their husband is no longer leading them appropriately.  They and all their children can be given to another man in the sect and the children become his.  It's a look at the power one man has to destroy or hold hostage so many people.  pazt

"A Rule Against Murder"

"A Rule Against Murder" is the 4th book, I believe, in Louise Penny's  Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series.  Armand and his wife, Reine-Marie, are celebrating their wedding anniversary just like they do every year in an isolated but luxurious inn in the woods on a lake not far from the village of Three Pines (where Armand has investigated several murders and made several friends.) 

Their vacation starts out very restful while they observe the goings and comings of the Finney family who have come to the inn to celebrate their father.  There's mom and dad, 2 sisters,  a grandchild, a brother and his wife, and another brother and his wife on the way.  The Gamache's are in for a surprise when the last brother to arrive is a couple they know well from Three Pines.

Peripherally, there is the owner and staff of the inn and the interactions between and among themselves and with the guests making for some very interesting dynamics.  The peaceful setting (other than the squabbling which seems to be a constant among the Finney siblings) is disturbed when a murder occurs.  Armand's vacation is interrupted while his team arrives to assist in the investigation and Reine-Marie is sent off to Three Rivers where preparations are being made for Canada Day (their anniversary) and where Armand believes she will be safer.

This is an incredibly rich and complex book -- maybe one of my favorites yet of Penny's Gamache series.  and I'm looking forward to her next one which is already on its way. 

Truth gleaned from this book - Count your blessings every day!  pazt

"The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms"

N. K. Jemisin's first book in the fantasy inheritance trilogy is "The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms" and, although I had some difficulty getting into this book at first, once I got into the rhythm of it and began to "get" the fantasy ideas and connections between places and worlds I did enjoy the read and have already started my search for the second book in this trilogy. 

This book is Jemisin's debut novel and the heroine is Yeine Darr, granddaughter to a king.  However, her mother chose to marry a barbarian from the north and relinquish her claim to the throne.  When her mother dies mysteriously and Yeine is summoned to Sky and her grandfather, she finds a world much different than the one she was raised in and has little help in navigating this strange city full of danger and intrigue.  When her grandfather names her as one of  three possible heirs to the throne, she finds herself in a power struggle for a throne she doesn't care about and perhaps in mortal danger herself.  You can learn more about the author at nkjemisin.com....... pazt

"Bliss, Remembered"

"Bliss, Remembered" by Frank Deford is the only book I've read by Deford but it definitely won't be the last. Teddy's widowed mother, Sydney Stringfellow Branch, is dying and, when he goes to visit her in Eugene,Oregon where she has moved after his father's death, she begins to tell him a story.  He and his younger sister know that she went to the Berlin Olympics in 1936 and that their father was wounded at Guadelcanal but neither parent would ever talk about either event.  Teddy has a week with his mother before he returns home to Montana and his sister arrives from Texas for her visit with mom.  During Teddy's week with Sydney she begins to tell him about a love affair she had while attending the Berlin Olympics -- a man who was the love of her life.  This is a little disconcerting for Teddy knowing that his parents had such a good marriage and, at times, it's a little difficult for him to hear but it's a fascinating story, too, and he's drawn in.  It's about the world of competitive swimming and the Olympics and love and loss, war and intrigue and love found, lost, and new love.  I couldn't help admiring Sydney's strength and courage through difficult choices and her story is a surprising one that takes the reader down some unexpected paths.  It's also historical fiction revealing much about what it was like to live in the 1930's-1940's.  pazt    

"Smokin' Seventeen" and "Explosive Eighteen"

Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels have been favorites of mine for years and my daughter loaned me "Explosive Eighteen" a year or so ago but I hadn't yet read "Smokin' Seventeen" so I'd been waiting to read it.  In looking at the summary about "Sizzlin Sixteen" at the library, it appears I haven't read it yet either so I've requested it.  In the meantime.....my spouse and I went on vacation and he had a copy of "Smokin' Seventeen" he took to read so I took "Explosive Eighteen" so he could read it, too, if he finished "17."  Let me tell you I really started something when I got him to watch the movie based on Evanovich's first Plum book because he's ordering her books from the library as well as purchasing copies and he read several when we were on our week long vacation. 

He finished "Smokin' Seventeen" and - since it was a library book - I decided I'd read it before he returned it.  I wasn't planning on reading  the next book while we were away because I had plenty of other books with me to read.  Well...."Smokin' Seventeen" was great ! Stephanie's employer is building a new office on the site of his old one and dead bodies are turning up!  While Stephanie and her off-again on-again cop boyfriend, Morelli, are trying to figure out what is going on, Ranger - her security expert friend and the bad boy in her life - is also assisting.  As if that weren't enough to complicate Stephanie's life, her mother is pushing her to get married again and doesn't think either Ranger or Morelli are ever going to pop the question and/or be suitable for Stephanie.  What's her solution?  Fix Stephanie up with a former high school football star who has returned to town after his divorce. 

As usual, complications arise and once the murders are sorted out, Stephanie decides it is time to make some decisions about the men in her life and make a choice about which one she's inviting to take advantage of a trip to Hawaii she's been gifted with.  Given that the book ended on that cliff hanger I had to immediately start "Explosive Eighteen!"  How did fans wait for that book to come out!

"Explosive Eighteen" starts with Stephanie returning to Newark from Hawaii and it's a while before she's willing to share what happened in Hawaii -- you'll have to read the book to find out for yourself!  Enroute home, her seatmate goes missing after an L.A. layover and, when he turns up dead, all kinds of people are anxious to talk to her -- some law enforcement and some not!  It's back to work for Stephanie chasing skips with Lula while being pursued and possibly in danger herself but what's new in Plum's life?! Lula manages to add her own complication by falling in love with one of their skips -- and not a particularly attractive one (in my opinion).  I'm not telling you any more - read these two books for yourself and enjoy!!! pazt
                                                                                                                                                  

"Rizzoli & Isles" - The Complete First Season

Although I can't remember having read any of Dr. Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles novels, I'm loving the TV series that brings them to life.  Now that we don't have all the cable channels in the world I'm having to rely on watching it on line or finding another source.  I recently checked out the entire first season on DVD from my library and tonight my spouse and I watched the last episode.  Wouldn't you know - it's a cliff hanger!!!  Why hadn't I already put in a request for the second season?  It looks like I'm 47th in line to get it.

Angie Harmon is perfect as Detective Jane Rizzoli as is Sasha Alexander who portrays Dr. Maura Isles.  This cop/coroner team (who also happen to be friends) are a great duo and the support cast is not bad either.  Jordan Bridges is Jane's brother, Frankie Rizzoli Jr. (also a cop) and  Lorraine Bracco portrays her mom.  Lee Thompson Young is Detective Barry Frost  - Jane's current partner.  Bruce McGill  is Detective Vincent Korsak - her former partner and none to happy about it!

The two most gruesome episodes are the first and eighth ones featuring the Surgeon - a serial killer behind bars thanks to Jane and her former partner, Detective Korsak.  After the eighth episode my spouse informed me he wasn't watching any more episodes that had anything to do with the "Surgeon."  I can't say I blame him as they're pretty creepy!

Amidst the normal murder and mayhem that accompanies a cop and coroner's life, there's some romance, some family drama, and some inquisitiveness on Maura's part about her roots.  She was adopted by a wealthy family and has wealth but not so much love.  I can't wait to see more about these characters fleshed out in future episodes in the series.

pazt

"Gimme Refuge - The Education of a Caretaker"

Matt Love's "Gimme Refuge - The Education of a Caretaker" is the story of Matt's transition from a teacher in Portland to a small private school on the Oregon Coast that led to the opportunity for he and his wife to reside at a wildlife refuge there and become the caretakers in exchange for a place to live.  Love articulates well his thoughts about teaching in general and the heavy duty work required to make the home on the refuge site habitable.  He's the kind of teacher I would have loved to have had so I was saddened when he decides to quit his job to become a full time writer.  Although I understood his desire to try his hand at writing full time, I was disappointed that the teaching profession was losing such an involved teacher.  His care for his students shines through his teaching methods.    That's not the end of his "transitions" but you'll have to read the book yourself to learn more.

I loved his willingness to read a book recommended by one of his students and then discover how much he loved it.  When he shared with the student how much he enjoyed the book, the student tells him he has lots more he can bring from home to share with him.  I can't remember a teacher who was willing to learn from me, too!

His last graduation ceremony at the private school he was leaving was also a party and leave-taking for him -- it's a great story!  pazt

                                            

"Doc Martin" Series 3

Martin Clune as "Doc Martin" does a superb job as usual in Series 3.  Despite the lack of warmth in his own upbringing, Doc is still pursuing Louisa although the relationship appears to have cooled as the series begins.  Doc has his hands full trying to convince the town's new constable that he has narcolepsy that requires treatment.  In the meantime, Doc's receptionist, Pauline, is bored and wants to add to her duties in the surgery.  A hypochondriac who has the fashionable local hotel is pursuing him and not being very subtle about it.  One of the local girls is the target of her girlfriends due to her lack of "endowment" and Doc has the perfect solution for her.   Just as Doc and Louisa are starting to make an effort to maybe have a relationship, though, her new neighbors throw a wrench in the works.  Will they ever get together?  Are they meant to?  I suppose we may have to wait till the next season to discover that answer!

pazt

"One For The Money"

When "One For The Money" (based on Janet Evanovich's best selling book) came out in the theaters last year, my daughter and I were right there to see it.  I've long been a fan of the Stephanie Plum books - shaking the bed with laughter and trying (unsuccessfully) not to wake my spouse while reading them at bedtime.  Katherine Heigl makes a great Stephanie Plum and Debbie Reynolds is wonderful as her Grandma Mazur.  In fact, all the casting was perfect as far as I'm concerned so, if you're a Stephanie Plum fan and haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it!

I brought the DVD home from the library and, when it was my night to choose what we were going to watch, I could almost feel my spouse's hackles rising next to me but it didn't take him long to get into the movie and a few days later he was even asking if we could watch it again -- and we have several times!  Now the library wants it back, though, so it's going on our holiday  wish list because we've decided we want to own it.  I sure hope there is a second movie in the works!

In the meantime, my husband has read the book and has purchased some more Stephanie Plum/Janet Evanovich books to take on vacation. I think I've converted him!!!!

pazt

"Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear"

Sharon Dunn's "Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear" is apparently her second book in A Bargain Hunters Mystery series.  I thought I was reading the first book in the series until near the end of the book but I did wonder as she kept referring to a previous death.   Although the story is decent, it's not a mystery that has me begging to read more of the series.  I think I've mentioned in previous posts that I am not  fond of books that add  sex to their mysteries sort of as an afterthought -- It always makes me think the author has been asked to add it to sell more books.  That's not the case in Dunn's book but what she has running throughout her book is a "Christianity" theme where part of the goal of her characters is to see that the heroines are involved with men who are Christian and/or promoting Christianity among their friends and it just doesn't add to the story line for me.  Since this edition is a "Large Print Christian Mystery," I've made an assumption (perhaps erroneously) that all books in this series are in this vein.  Since I read mysteries for escapism and not to be preached to, I don't plan to pick up any more of Dunn's books to read.  I don't have enough time as it is to read all the good books I want to and/or keep up with some of my favorite authors.  However, I also never miss an opportunity to check out an author I haven't read before just in case I'll find a new author to follow.  pazt

"The Deadly Bride and 21 of The Year's Finest Crime and Mystery Stories!"

"The Deadly Bride and 21 of The Year's Finest Crime and Mystery Stories" is a collection of 22 crime and mystery stories by  the following authors:  James W. Hall, Nancy Pickard, Jeffery Deaver,  Sharan Newman, J. A. Jance, F. Paul Wilson, David Morrell, Rick Mofina, Marcia Talley, Mike MacLean, Wendy Hornsby, Stanley Cohen,  Robert S. Levinson, Neal Marks, Simon Brett, Sue Pike, Peter Tremayne, Jeremiah Healy, Kim Harrington, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Craig McDonald, and Anne Perry.   This type of book is one of my favorite for bedtime reading because I can finish a story without staying up all night reading a book that has me hooked.  I like stories with a twist at the end and there are several of those in this anthology.  Some of my favorites were Nancy Pickard's "There Is No Crime On Easter Island," Jeffery Deaver's "Born Bad," and Sharon Newman's "The Deadly Bride."   One with a unique spin and rather interesting premise was Simon Brett's "Cain Was Innocent."  Check out this anthology for some varied reading. pazt

"Lullaby Town"

"Lullaby Town" is the third book, I believe, in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, Private Detective series.  Cole is hired by Peter Alan Nelsen, one of Hollywood's latest and greatest directors who has decided (after twelve years) that he wants to find his ex-wife so he can play father to his now 12-year-old son.  Cole questions his motives but Nelsen makes a case that seems to ring true for Cole and he sets out on what turns out not to be just an every day find a missing person case.  Peter's ex-wife, Karen, seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth and the usual methods of tracking her aren't working.  However, Cole gets a lucky break when questioning her last known landlady and ends up in a small town in Connecticut where Karen has changed her name and is now managing the town's bank.  Unfortunately, she's inadvertently gotten herself mixed up in the mafia and before Cole can tell Nelsen where his son is, he decides to try to get her out of this entanglement.  However, Nelsen has hired another private detective to follow Cole and he's good and isn't spotted by Cole until he's already revealed to Nelsen where his ex-wife and son are living.

When Nelson and his Hollywood bodyguards arrive, he thinks he can fix everything just because of who he is.  When that proves wrong and lives are threatened, it's Cole and Pike to the rescue with the help of a retired New York copy buddy turned author.  There's plenty of excitement and Cole and Pike have their hands full when dealing with the east coast mafia -- will they be able to successfully extricate Karen and her son from a bad situation or will it prove fatal for them?

Remind me not to start one of Crais' books late in the day because I have a tendency not to be able to put them down until I've finished the whole book which meant I was up until 3 a.m. finishing this one!  pazt

"The Savage Garden"

Although"The Savage Garden" is good and just as complex a novel as his others, my favorite Mark Mills novel has to be "House of the Hunted" followed by "Amagansett."  Mills novels are not series so each stands on its own and they don't need to be read in any particular order to make sense.

In "The Savage Garden" Adam Strickland, a Cambridge scholar, is asked by his professor to take on a special summer project.  He wants him to visit the famous Docci garden in Tuscany and write a paper about it.  His professor says he'll arrange a place for him to stay and Adam departs with his father's camera but without his father's blessing.  Adam's brother joins him for part of the summer and their time together reveals some family secrets.  Secrets seem to be the keyword for the summer because Adam also uncovers two murders from the past which may or may not endear him to the family he is visiting.  Will he be able to decipher the clues in the garden and on the family estate to help solve the murders?  Romance is also in the air but can it last when family secrets are uncovered?  Will Adam stay the carefree lackadaisacal student he was before the summer who was planning to follow in his father's footsteps (even though that's not the career path he would have chosen for himself)?  Mills is an excellent writer who weaves complex plots with surprises along the way...pazt

"Terror on Tuesday"

"Terror on Tuesday" is the second book in Ann Purser's Lois Meade mystery series.  Lois has moved her family to Long Farnden (the village that started her career as a house cleaner) and opened her own cleaning business called New Brooms.  Rather than doing all the cleaning herself she hires staff to assist her.  Detective Inspector Hunter Cowgill lets her know that he'd still like to enlist her help in his future cases -- something Lois isn't too keen on.  However, she gets pulled into his next two murder investigations after finding both bodies and discovering links to a friend as well as members of her staff.  Her family is put at risk again and her mother comes to stay to help out on the home front.  Although not quite as good (in my opinion) as the first book, it was worth the read and I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series.  pazt 

"Doc Martin" - Series 2

"Doc Martin" - series 2 - starring Martin Clunes gives us a more in depth look into Doc's life and why he's the way he is.  When his parents arrive on the scene for a visit, it's easy to understand why he would prefer to spend time with his Aunt Joan!  In the meantime, Louisa's former boyfriend, Danny, an architect, returns to Portwen and appears ready to resume his relationship with Louisa which doesn't set too well with Doc but what can he do about it?  We also meet Louisa's father this season -- the man who raised her when her mother left.  He turns out to be a bit of a surprise and brings some trouble to town with him.  Romance is in the air, too, for the town policeman and the plumber's son.  Will anyone be able to sustain a relationship?  (Or, in the case of Doc, even be able to start one?)  Tune in and see....pazt

"Outliers" - What is success?

When our couple's book club chose "Outliers - The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell as our September book read, I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book.  However, when my husband and I were in Port Townsend, I found a paperback copy of the book in a small book store and began reading it while waiting in line for the ferry back to Edmonds.  Since my husband and I were both reading it, I was glad when the hardback copy I'd ordered from the local library arrived so I could give him the paperback copy to highlight as he pleased.  I read the book through before our meeting last night and he actually read it twice.

We had a spirited discussion at book club last night (that lasted 30-45 minutes longer than our normal sessions) with some divergent opinions about the book's content but no one disputed that the author has a formula for presenting the information with anecdotes and excerpts from published research that makes for an interesting read.  What we didn't discuss -- and I didn't think about it until we were driving home -- was something my husband and I had discussed - What is success?

Gladwell looks at success in terms of how well people do in school and professionally but is that your definition of success?  I would like to think that I define success in more personal terms and that it's not dependent on how well I did in school (although I have a master's degree) or how well I did in the work place.  Success to me lies in my 51 year marriage to the same man who is also my best friend.  Success is having a close relationship with my children and grandchildren and their spouses.  Success (for me) lies in personal relationships of all types and working to maintain them.  I don't think that type of success can be achieved by individuals focusing solely on their career -- or maybe I'm wrong?  How could you have time to build a relationship with your spouse and children if you spend an inordinate amount of time advancing your career?  How do you juggle both of those?

Having said that I have to admit that even I -- who believes personal relationships are a priority -- don't spend as much time as I would like getting together with friends and maintaining those relationships.  My spouse and my children/grandchildren take precedence then time at work (because I need some income) with maintaining friendships last.

In the book, Gladwell talks about "The Roseto Mystery" where Italians from the town of Roseto sailed to New York and eventually settled in Pennsylvania where they basically recreated their home town and its customs.  When a doctor studied these villages in the 1950's at a time when heart attacks were an epidemic in the U. S., he rarely found anyone under the age of 65 from Roseto with heart disease and even with those over 65 death from heart disease was about half that of the entire U.S.  When they began to look at the community, diet and exercise couldn't explain their findings nor could genetics or the location where they settled.  They finally decided the secret to their good health lie with the community itself and their interactions and close relationships.  There was no "separateness" - a lesson we could all use especially in this pre-election political environment!

Sadly, though, my husband just started another book that mentions that Roseto and this insulated community didn't survive.  As young people grew up, the community changed and lost its cohesiveness.  That change means they suffer all the same illnesses as the rest of the country at the same rates.

What does this say to me?  It tells me how important it is to create and sustain relationships for our physical and mental health as well as our social well-being.  Something my spouse read talks about how joining even one group or club can increase resistance to health problems.  I've read in the past how much longer people live who do volunteer work and how married men seem to live longer than unmarried men.  It suggests to me that relationships are important and sustaining positive ones throughout our life is a good thing.  It's not to say that you can't have positive relationships with co-workers but, if work is your whole life, how do you find time to develop those personal relationships outside work that enrich your life emotionally and impact your health positively?  Something to think about.....pazt    

"Eat Pray Love" - the Movie

I loved "Eat Pray Love" the book and the movie.  I saw the movie in the theater with my daughter then recently checked the movie out from the library so my husband and I could watch it together.  I thought I heard sighs from his side of the recliner when the movie started (my night to choose what we watched) but by the time it was over he was hooked.  Liz Gilbert did a great job writing about her personal journey through divorce/depression to finding a fuller life.  Julia Roberts plays a believable Gilbert in the movie as she eats her way through Italy, prays in India, and finds love again in Bali.  But...wait that's much more simplistic than it really is so why don't you check out the movie.....pazt

"Stalking The Angel"

"Stalking The Angel" is the second book in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike mystery series.  Cole is hired to find a rare Japanese manuscript that disappeared from his client's home yet the home  is well guarded and there are no obvious signs of a break in.  His client doesn't particularly like Cole's attitude and , when the client's daughter is kidnapped, he fires Cole for being incompetent.  However, Cole takes it personally that the girl was kidnapped right under his nose and refuses to let the case drop.  He sets out to find the girl without anyone paying the bills.  Where that leads him takes a surprising turn and the ending leaves him as well as the reader wondering who duped who.  I can't believe it took me so long to discover these mysteries -- definitely going to be looking for the next one in the series!  pazt

"Desert Lost"

Betty Webb's "Desert Lost" is another in her Lena Jones mystery series.  Webb has done her research as usual and where she has looked at polygamy and its affect on the women in a previous book in this series, this one looks at what often happens to the young boys in a polygamous society.  In order for plural marriage to work, there have to be fewer men so young men who have limited education and social or work skills are dumped onto the streets of large cities far from their childhood homes and left to fend for themselves.  Lena learns about this polygamy side effect while trying to solve the murder of a woman whose body she found while staking out a storage unit in Scottsdale.  In the meantime, she's supposed to be moving in with her boyfriend but solving murder takes precedence as usual and the relationship begins to suffer as a result.  Her second job (consulting for a Hollywood TV show) also demands her attention.  Will she be able to uncover the murderer, perform her second job, and juggle a romantic relationship as well as help some of these "lost boys?"  Oh, and did I forget to mention that one of Lena's former foster mothers has re-entered her life?  Betty Webb has written a complex, realistic tale fleshing out more of Lena's history and adding more depth to her character.  Don't miss this latest Lena Jones mystery!  pazt

"Kill My Darling"

"Kill My Darling" is another Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Detective Inspector Bill Slider Mysteries.  I can't seem to get enough of this series and the author weaves a  particularly complex tale in "Kill My Darling" which kept me changing my mind throughout about who the "baddies" were -- a truly satisfying read.  When Melanie Hunter goes missing, there are plenty of suspects -- a neighbor who served time for killing his wife, a live-in boyfriend who wasn't exactly who he appeared to be, and a stepfather with secrets.  Although she seemed loved by all, who really loved Melanie and why was she killed?  pazt  

"A Peach Of A Murder"

Livia J. Washburn's "A Peach Of A Mystery" is her first book in the "A Fresh-Baked Mystery" series.  Phyllis Newsom is a retired schoolteacher whose son is in local law enforcement.  He's married with a wife and baby and Phyllis is widowed with a big house.  She has filled the house by renting out rooms to fellow retired schoolteachers -- one of whom is her biggest competition in the upcoming Parker County Peach Festival where Phyllis is hoping to snag a blue ribbon this year.  As she is out picking peaches with Mattie, one of her roomers, the owner of the orchard - a not so popular guy -- ends up dead underneath his car in his own barn.  Was it an accident or murder?  As more deaths occur, local law enforcement have their hands full asking that question in all of them.  When one of Phyllis' roomers is accused of murder, she decides to do a little sleuthing on her own which her son discourages.  Despite the fact that the accused and Phyllis are competing fiercely in the peach bake-off, Phyllis doesn't believe she'd murder anyone and wants to clear her name.  To stir things up a bit, Phyllis has been asked to add another roomer to her home -- a widower -- and after serious consideration (and meeting him) she agrees.  However, not everyone in the house is happy about adding a male to their all-female household.  Will Phyllis be able to keep all her roomers and peace in her home while attempting to solve the murder?  Look for a surprise ending!  pazt

"Sunset"

Blake Edwards' "Sunset" mystery movie brings together the legendary Wyatt Earp (played by James Garner) and Tom Mix (played by Bruce Willis).  Mix has been hired to play Earp in a film and Earp is on the set to act as an adviser to the movie but they end up discovering a dead body.  When it appears Tom's girlfriend is in danger, he sends her off to his ranch and along with Earp takes on the bad guys and sets out to solve the murder.  This is an action-packed but fun movie -- just what I wanted for an at-home date night! pazt

"Primary Colors"

"Primary Colors" is a movie starring John Travolta as Jack Stanton, an unknown Southern Governor running for U. S. President -- sound familiar?  Emma Thompson plays his ambitious wife, Susan, who wants the White House as much as he does.  It's going to be a tough race so they put together a winning team that includes characters played by Billy Bob Thornton and Kathy Bates.  Although billed as a comedy, it has its serious moments, too.  When claims are being made by Stanton's opponents, the Stantons bring in Bates' character who used to work with them when they were young and idealistic and knows how to ferret out the truth.  She stays on to assist with the campaign and is faced with a dilemma she must present to them and wonders how they'll deal with it.  Will they still be the idealistic couple she knew and worked with in their younger days or will they disappoint her?   This might be the perfect movie to watch while we're being inundated with political propaganda - what do we believe?!!!  pazt

"The Monkey's Raincoat"

"The Monkey's Raincoat" was the first book in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole (L.A. Private Eye) series and I can understand why this has been a popular series.  In this first book he's been approached by Ellen Lang whose husband and son have disappeared and she needs his help to find them.  She and her husband moved to California from a small town in Kansas when they were young marrieds and she's always relied on him to pay the bills, provide support, etc. so she doesn't even know how to write a check.  When Cole begins the search for her husband and son, he stirs up a hornet's nest and Ellen's home is searched and trashed by someone unknown so she sends her two daughters off to stay with a friend.  Then Ellen herself is missing!  Will Cole be able to find out who is behind this family's disappearance -- with or without his somewhat silent business partner or the local police?  It was a book that kept me guessing throughout and was one of those that was hard to put down.  Great mystery!  pazt

"Doc Martin"

I'd heard about the British comedy "Doc Martin" but had never watched it so checked out the 2 disc DVD Series 1 set from the library.  Martin Clunes plays Doc Martin who is neurotic, socially awkward, and one of the best diagnosticians around.  Doc had a great career as a London surgeon but there was one small problem -- He fainted at the sight of blood!  What to do?  He decides to retire to a small town as their only doctor.  The town is full of quirky characters who seem willing to put up with a doctor who lacks tact.  Some of them even remember him from his childhood visits to his aunt who has a farm outside town.  Although Doc doesn't come across as an eligible bachelor, there does appear to be the hint of a romance in the air when he spots a local school teacher and she spots him shortly after his arrival in town.  I can hardly wait to watch Series 2!

pazt  

DVD: "Downton Abbey"

"Downton Abbey" PBS Masterpiece Classic UK edition  Series 1 was recommended to me by a friend and I was totally unprepared for what a treat it was going to be.  The series is set in the time of the sinking of the Titanic and the dawn of World War I.  Downton Abbey's Earl of Grantham has three daughters but no male heir to pass his family estate to.  Although the family and staff alike feel that the eldest daughter, Lady Mary, should inherit, it must be a male heir.  The solution would be for Lady Mary to marry the male heir but solutions and what really is seldom turn out to be one and the same.  Lady Mary's American mother, Cora,  brought a huge fortune to the marriage but her deceased father-in-law legally entailed it as part of the estate so there is no way for the family to get their hands on the inheritance -- It goes with the estate and the Earl knows that it is also needed to maintain the estate.  However his mother, the Dowager Countess of Grantham (played by Maggie Smith) conspires with her daughter-in-law, Cora (played by Elizabeth McGovern) to find a way to separate the inheritance from the estate.  However, the Earl (played by Hugh Bonneville) refuses to budge on this. 

There's plenty of drama upstairs with the aristocratic family -- especially between Lady Mary and her next youngest sister, Lady Edith.  They may not literally kill each other but the relationship is a poisonous one with consequences beyond just the two of them.

Downstairs there's drama with the household staff -- love, hate, jealousy, and manipulation -- making for great story lines upstairs and downstairs aided by marvelous casting.

Don't miss the special features either -- "The Making of Downtown Abbey" and "A House in History."

The series is incredibly expensive so we're waiting for Series Two from the library and the waiting list is long!

pazt

"The Cruelest Month"

"The Cruelest Month" - a Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny - is one of her best mysteries yet which is saying something since I've found all of her Three Pines Mysteries hard to put down.

Why this title? The author explains in a passage on page 247 of the hardback copy I read how the title about the month of April was inspired by T. S. Eliot: "All those spring flowers slaughtered. Happens almost every year. They're tricked into blooming, into coming out. Opening up. And not just the spring bulbs, but the buds on the trees. The rose bushes, everything. All out and happy. And then boom, a freak snowstorm kills them all."


Penny is an incredible author and has woven a complex, believable tale of friendships, hatred, compassion, kindness, and loyalty. She exhibits an understanding of human psychology that adds to the authenticity of her story lines.


Early books in this series have hinted at Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's previous difficulties because he was instrumental in bringing down Arnot, a high ranking Surete officer but we've never had the full story until now.  We've known that his uncovering Arnot's division's crimes made him unpopular with many of his fellow officers because he's seen as being disloyal and he's been shunned by some.  However, are there officers that hate him so much and admire Arnot enough that they'd really actively work to bring Gamache down?    Things come to a head in this book when he's sent to Three Pines to investigate yet another murder but finds himself dealing with betrayals by those close to him, spies on his investigative team, and false newspaper articles planted to wound not only him but family members.  Gamache has had enough so everything comes to a head about the time he solves the murder.  Will he resign from the Surete to protect his family or will he continue to solve crimes while dealing with the negativity of superior and fellow officers?

Will there be another book in this series?  I sure hope so and I'm off to find out!  pazt

"Cold Fire"

"Cold Fire" by Kate Elliott is the second book in The Spiritwalker Trilogy.  While the first book focused mostly on Catherine (known as Cat), this book reveals more about her beloved cousin, Beatrice (known as Bee), and follows the two cousins (raised together like sisters) as they travel together with Cat's half-brother, Rory.  Bee is in danger and Cat and Rory are dedicated to keeping her safe.  Cat learns more about the man who sired her and her half-brother along the way then is surprised by what she learns and observes about the man she was forced to marry when he re-enters her life.  Will she get the separation and marriage annulment she desires or will getting to know him better change her feelings towards him?  Will she and Rory be able to keep Bee safe?  Can they keep themselves safe?  I found this second book in the fantasy series an easier and quicker read and I'm looking forward to reading the third and final book in the trilogy when it comes out next year.  pazt

"Murder on Monday"

I picked up one of Ann Purser's mysteries at the library then discovered it was a series so returned it and checked out the first book in the series, "Murder on Monday."  Wow!  If I understand the cover info about Purser, she is an author and avid reader of detective stories but this is her first murder mystery.  The tale she wove is incredibly complex and kept me guessing about "whodunnit" until almost the very end!  Lois Meade is married with a daughter and two sons.  When her children are all in school, she decides it's time to go to work to help support the family.  Since her husband is gone most of the day working the the family business and her best skills seem to be in cleaning, she decides to take on cleaning jobs.  This doesn't set well with her children until she agrees that all her jobs will be in a nearby village and not near home.  With her mother living nearby and able to help with the children, she begins a career in the village of Long Farnden where she cleans at five different homes on five different weekday mornings.

Once Lois has established her career as a cleaning lady she decides she'd also like to take on the unpaid position of  a volunteer local constable but that's not well received by her family or the interviewees at the police department who don't believe she has enough spare time to take that on, too.  However, when the Long Farnden local spinster, Gloria Hathaway, is murdered, suspicion falls on many of the residents that she cleans for and her help is enlisted on an informal basis by the police investigating the murder.

In the meantime, her 14 year old daughter has become involved with a young man several years older than she and Lois and her husband are concerned about the relationship so are keeping a watchful eye on it while trying to also discourage any serious attachment.  Teenage girls can be a handful on their own without this complication!

As Lois quietly does some sleuthing at the homes where she cleans, she gets to know her families a little more than she planned and seriously looks at all of them as suspects but finds it hard to believe any of them would be guilty of murder.  She also learns her husband had a connection to the deceased spinster and her whole world is rocked by this revelation.  The police want to continue to have her assistance but also warn her to be careful because she might be endangering herself as well as her family.  When Long Farnden residents also warn her, she does begin to wonder if she's not cut out to be a police informant.  However, she soon learns it's too late when she's forced to turn to the police for help saving a family member.

I'm getting a strong sense that this is just the beginning of a continued relationship between Lois Meade and the local police investigator and her services are going to be needed in future stories in this series.  I can't wait to find out!  pazt

"Desert Cut"

"Desert Cut" is Betty Webb's 5th book in the Lena Jones Mystery series and she's delivered again with a tale that could have been taken from headlines.  When Lena and her boyfriend, Warren, discover a little girl's body in the desert while vacationing, Lena feels compelled to put on her private investigator hat and discover what happened to this child even if it results in putting her relationship with Warren on shaky ground.  As usual, Webb develops her characters well and researches her material to develop a story that parallels real life events.  If her purpose is to gain empathy and support to prevent injustices, she's achieved it.  Although the subject material is "dark," the writing and story line are superb and I'm ready to read the next book in the series.  pazt

"State of Wonder"

"State of Wonder" is the second Ann Patchett book my book club has read.  The first one was "Bel Canto" which was the very first book we read when our club started several years ago.  Although I would need to re-read "Bel Canto" to remember the story, I did find "State of Wonder" a quicker read.  Dr. Marina Singh, a drop out from medical school, has become a research scientist and the pharmaceutical company she currently works for has asked her to travel to the Amazon to find out more about the disappearance of one of her colleagues and to discover what progress her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, has made on a discovery that promises to boost the pharmaceutical companies earnings significantly.  What Dr. Singh discovers on this trip about Dr. Swenson, her missing colleague, the pharmaceutical company, as well as herself personally makes for an interesting read.  It's also convinced me I don't want to add the Amazon to my "bucket list!"  pazt

"Killer On A Hot Tin Roof"

"Killer On A Hot Tin Roof" is one of a series of "Delilah Dickenson Literary Tour" mysteries by Livia J. Washburn.  Delilah runs a literary travel agency and the latest tour is off  to New Orleans for the annual Tennessee Williams Literary Festival.  Delilah seems to have her hands full with this group -- trying to keep them all happy and out of trouble.  When one professor brings along a man who claims he is the one time lover of Tennessee Williams as well as the real author of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," sparks fly and murder brings out the worst in everyone. 

I found the book a light summer read but despite the fact I didn't figure out who the murderer was until about the time Delilah uncovered him, it wasn't the type of mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat not wanting to put the book down.  However it had some memorable lines:

"I can show you the places where my pen slipped into the scars and irregularities of the wood and it left marks on the paper...just like our lives slip into the scars and irregularities of the world and it leaves marks on our hearts."

"Sometimes I think if is one of the most useless words in the English language, because most of the time it's just pointing out where you went wrong and there's not a blasted thing you can do to change it.  All you can do is keep going forward and hope for the best."

pazt

"Desert Run" - a Lena Jones Mystery

"Desert Run" is the 4th book in the Lena Jones mystery series by Betty Webb.  The story centers around a film being made about an escape in 1944 from a German POW camp near where Scottsdale, AZ, is now located.  Although the story about the prison escape is true, Webb has added three additional escapees to the original 25 and built a mystery around these three ficticious characters.

Lena Jones has been hired by Warren Quinn, the director of the documentary to provide security for the film set.  When one of the surviving escapees who is wheelchair bound is murdered, Lena begins an investigation that leads to another mystery - who killed the Bollinger family around the time of the escape?  Was it the teenage son who wasn't home at the time supposedly or someone else?  As she begins to look into those murders, other murders occur and it looks like the past and the present may collide.  One of the victims is a friend she had hoped could give her more information about the Bollinger case so it becomes a personal vendetta to find the murderer or murderers.

In the meantime, Warren Quinn is developing feelings for Lena and it appears she might be reciprocating them - can it go any further when he returns to his home in California?  Her business partner has also given his notice that he's off to work at a "real" job now that he's getting married.  Will she be able to survive and thrive without Jimmy available to do investigative work via the computer?  The future holds promise and uncertainty for Lena - if she solves this murder mystery, what's next on the horizon for her?  Another great read!  pazt

"A Shot In The Dark"

I miss Peter Sellers!  "A Shot In The Dark" was his second film in the Pink Panther series and he starred with the beautiful (and sexy) Elke Sommer in this one.  She's a maid in the household of a millionaire and, when her boyfriend (the chauffeur) is murdered and she's found with a smoking gun in her hand, she's the obvious murderer.  However, Inspector Clouseau (played by Sellers) in his haphazard way sets out to prove her innocence.  Every time he has her released from jail, though, another household member ends up murdered with her holding the murder weapon!  I haven't laughed this much at a movie in a very long time.  If laughter truly is the best medicine, then this is the movie to watch to help you heal!  pazt.

"A Fatal Grace"

"Dead Cold" by Louise Penny is also known as "A Fatal Grace" which was the version I found at my local library.  This is a Three Pines Mystery and the second book in Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache series set in Canada.  Three Pines is a fictional hamlet created by Penny and "located" outside Montreal.  After reading her 6th book in the series, "Bury Your Dead," I decided I wanted to read them in order and watch the characters develop throughout the series.

"A Fatal Grace" is the winner of The New Blood Dagger and the Arthur Ellis award.  This mystery puzzles me somewhat because it refers to a case that Gamache needs to revisit that has been a blight on his career but doesn't give complete enough details to satisfy me so I'm hoping that mystery will eventually be cleared up in future books in the series.

It's winter in Three Pines and CC de Poitiers is a fairly new resident in town purchasing the Hadley house on the hill - moving in with her husband and their overweight daughter.  CC has self published a book and is in the process of trying some other ventures but what she seems most accomplished at is verbally destroying her daughter's self-esteem, being absent from hearth and home, and creating in others a total dislike of her!  So....it's no surprise when she ends up murdered but the method of her murder puzzles Gamache and his team and it will take some sleuthing to uncover a cunning murderer who had the ability to electrocute CC on a frozen lake in full view of a crowd of spectators at the annual curling tournament.

Once again I was treated to continued character development of the residents of Three Pines and Gamache's team as they attempt to solve the murder of this universally disliked woman.  At the start of the investigation Gamache asks Robert Lemieux to join his team for this investigation.  (Lemieux was the duty officer at the Cowansville police station who informed Gamache of the death.)

Once again, I read this book quickly and I'm already awaiting arrival of the next book in the series.

pazt

"Sarah's Key"

"Sarah's Key" by Tatiana De Rosnay is a historical novel that moved me in a way I cannot remember any other book moving me.  It alternates between modern day France and America and World War II France and the holocaust.  When Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living in France -- and married to a Frenchman -- is asked to write a story about the round up of Jews in Paris in July of 1942, she has no idea where that story will lead her and how it will impact her life as well as her family's life.  She uncovers the story of 10 year old Sarah, a Jewish girl taken with her parents by the French police in a door-to-door round up of Jews.  Her younger brother is afraid and decides to hide in a secret cupboard that he and Sarah play in.  Sarah locks him in, pockets the key, and promises to return to free him.  What happened to Sarah, her parents, and her brother all impact Julia's life.  It was a tale that saddened me but also inspired me with the bravery and compassion of others in a time of great fear and danger.  pazt

"The Reincarnationist"

"The Reincarnationist" is the second novel I've read by M. J. Rose in her "Reincarnationist" series and I believe it is my favorite of the two. It is hard for me to describe but I suppose I'd have to say it's a suspense thriller set in multiple historical times with most of it being set in modern day America. Josh Ryder is the main character and he's a photojournalist who is injured by a bomb explosion in Rome. From then on he suffers "flashbacks" that appear to be earlier lives he's led and he's particularly drawn to an archeological site and one of the female archeologists on the dig. When he visits the site, his life becomes intertwined with others in such a way that he has to solve the mysteries of the past and the present to free them all. pazt

"House of the Hunted"

"House of the Hunted" (also known as "House of the Hanged")is the second Mark Mills novel I've read and it leaves me wanting more. Mills writes historical romantic thrillers and this one is set in France in 1935 with flashbacks to 1919. Tom Nash is a former British Intelligence operative who has settled on the coast of France to retire to a life of writing. Friendships with the locals and visits from friends and his goddaughter keep his social life alive but, when an unknown assassin tries to kill him while he's sleeping, he learns he hasn't lost all his skills. Now he has to find who was behind the assassination attempt while protecting those he loves. Who wants him dead and why? Are his past "sins" coming back to haunt him? Who can he trust? Will his life ever be the same again or must he disappear to keep those he loves safe? pazt

"Desert Shadows - Publishing Can Be Murder"

Betty Webb's third Lena Jones mystery, "Desert Shadows - Publishing Can Be Murder," was another hit with me. When Lena's business partner's friend, Owen, is suspected in the poisoning murder of his employer, Gloriana Alden-Taylor, he asks Lena to investigate. She discovers plenty of other suspects with motives for murdering this woman with ties to the early Pilgrims and sets out to uncover the truth. In the midst of her investigation, Lena also has to report for court-ordered counseling sessions if she hopes to keep her private investigator's license. Through flashbacks and therapy Lena also begins to remember more of her childhood -- both before and after she almost died of a gunshot wound at age four. As in her previous books, Webb manages to give us some hints about what is happening in modern day Arizona. This series keeps me coming back for more so I'm off to find the fourth book! pazt

"The Two Minute Rule"

"The Two Minute Rule" by Robert Crais is one of his stand alone novels and, as far as I can remember, is the first of his work that I've read. He's also written a couple of mystery series - the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novels. "The Two Minute Rule" follows Max Holman after he's served prison time for a bank robbery. He has plans to get it right this time and also look up the adult son that he hasn't seen since he was a kid. His son is now a police officer and before he has a chance to find him, his son is murdered along with three other police officers. Devastated at the loss of his son and the relationship he hoped to build with him, he also learns the boy's mother died in a car accident a few years ago and he's unable to make amends with her either. Adrift and angry as well as not getting the answers he is seeking from the police, Holman sets out to find out what really happened to his son and enlists the help of the female FBI agent who was responsible for him going to prison. The investigation leads him down a path that makes him wonder who his son really was - a question he must find the answer to in order to find peace. This is a great read! pazt

"Newport Blues - A Salesman's Lament"

George Byron Wright's novel, "Newport Blues - A Salesman's Lament," is another book I picked up off my library's "good pick" display. It looked interesting to me just reading the back cover plus it's set along the Oregon coast -- one of my favorite places and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the coastal towns along with Sidney. Sidney Lister was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by his high school class but that nor his marriage to Ellie Conway two years out of high school panned out. When Sidney didn't succeed, Ellie moved on after ten years of marriage to richer pastures. Now that she's widowed they maintain separate residences but hook up for sex when it suits both of them. Since Ellie never wanted children, they both remain unencumbered and Sidney works as a shipping clerk for Beeman's International after having failed at different types of sales jobs. However, when Jonesy Jones, Beeman's salesperson drops dead, Sidney is forced to fill his shoes and head down the Oregon coast informing Jonesy's customers of his death and taking orders for Beeman's. He's given the company Cadillac that Jonesy used and a couple of credit cards that he has to be careful not to max out then told to be frugal. The story is really what Sidney learns about Jonesy (a man he didn't really know) as he travels down the coast. The reactions to Jonesy's death are varied but for the most part he has strongly impacted the lives of his customers and, as the stories are revealed to Sidney, he begins to get a sense of who Jonesy was. In the meantime, he's running from some trouble of his own that threatens to cost him his life and to complicate matters he runs into a high school classmate in Newport who he lusted after from afar in high school. He "knew" she outclassed him and he never stood a chance with her then but, as they become acquainted in a way they never could have in high school, the trips down memory lane reveal some truths about both of them they must face. Jonesy's death may have been the best thing that ever happened to Sidney because his life it is a changing! pazt

"Mr. Popper's Penguins"

The movie, "Mr. Popper's Penguins," starring Jim Carrey is a far cry from what I remember of the children's book by the same name but it is a great family film. Although I'm not particularly a fan of Jim Carrey, his portrayal of Mr. Popper was fun to watch. Successful and divorced Mr. Popper has to take a second look at his life and his relationship with his children and his ex-wife when a gift in the form of a penguin arrives from his recently deceased and adventurer father. Through a series of missteps by Mr. Popper one penguin becomes a family of penguins which in turn improves his relationship with his children. Mr. Popper -- a man who has never been introspective -- finds himself challenged in his business dealings as well as his personal life and is forced to look at the life he's been leading and make decisions about what he wants in his future. I enjoyed this funny and heartwarming movie watching it first with my spouse then with our two youngest grandchildren. What could be more fun than enjoying it along with the giggles of a 5 year old and 7 year old! pazt

"Cold Magic"

"Cold Magic" by Kate Elliott is the first book in "The Spiritwalker Trilogy." I don't believe I've ever read anything by Elliott before and I have to admit I had some difficulty getting into this book at first. However, I persisted and enjoyed it and am intrigued enough to check out the next book in the series, "Cold Fire," just to discover what happens to the heroine(s) of this book. It's a fantasy that is a little hard for me to describe but it features two cousins, Cat and Bee, who grew up together in the same household and both are on the verge of coming of age. Neither is prepared for what the future holds for them but they both have "magical" gifts that should make the transition to adulthood - and the challenges it brings - easier. An interesting side note: This book was influenced by ideas from the author's children and she turned to them for suggestions while writing it. pazt

"Pie a la Murder"

"Pie a la Murder" is the 4th book, I believe, in Melinda Wells' Della Carmichael mysteries. They are light, fun reads that I enjoy so I always look forward to reading the next book in the series. This installment has Della, the star of a her own cable cooking show as well as the owner of a cooking school in Santa Monica, CA, in the middle of a charity fundraiser called "Operation Pie." As if that weren't enough to keep any woman busy, the love of her life, Nicholas, informs her he has an 18 year old daughter, Celeste, that he hasn't seen since she was an infant and now she's coming to live with him. She's been living with her mother in Europe but has acting ambitions so California seems the logical place for her to be. However, when a rather unsavory Hollywood photographer is murdered and it's learned he had some embarrassing pictures of Celeste, Nicholas is the prime suspect in his death. Della has to call in all her favors and use all her resources to prove Nicholas' innocence (or is he innocent?) while dealing with his daughter who doesn't seem inclined to accept Della as part of her father's life. Will Nicholas turn out to be the murderer or will their romance survive if he is indeed innocent? pazt

"The Pink Panther"

Although I loved Blake Edwards' version of "The Pink Panther," I was disappointed when I recently watched the new version with Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, and Beyonce Knowles. I so wanted to like it but it couldn't hold a candle to the earlier version plus I could understand very little of what the characters said when they were speaking with French accents. All in all very disappointing! pazt

"The Book of Lost Fragrances"

"The Book of Lost Fragrances" by M. J. Rose is a suspense novel set in the past and the present as well as in various world spots. Rose had to have done an incredible amount of research before even starting on this book and it is a well written tale about a brother and sister - heirs to a failing perfume business in Paris. Jac, the sister, lives in New York and is all for selling the company while her brother, Robbie, hopes to save the business. When Robbie disappears after a man is found dead in their Paris home, Jac returns to France and a life she left behind to join the search for her brother. As old memories surface and friends offer their support, she is caught up in more than an attempt to locate her brother. She finds herself in the midst of a plot that could cost her and those she holds dear their lives. In the meantime, there is another story line around the Dalai Lama and his heir and an interesting fact came out that I didn't know - In 2007 the Chinese government passed a law banning reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist monks which Tibet feels is specifically aimed at wiping out their identity and culture. Imagine legislating reincarnation!!!! pazt

"Desert Wives"

Betty Webb's "Desert Wives" is the second book in her Lena Jones mystery series. Private Detective Lena Jones finds herself under cover in a polygamous compound on the Arizona-Utah border. She's trying to save the lives of two women -- a mother and daughter -- one of whom is wanted for murder. The result is a harrowing adventure for her as well as an inside look at the seamier side of a polygamy compound and the corrupt officials who look the other way rather than assisting women in need. Webb has done it again -- weaving a great mystery using information drawn from research to create a believable but scary tale. She credits Kathleen Tracy's "The Secret Story of Polygamy" for background information and Tapestry Against Polygamy (www.polygamy.org) which is an organization founded by women who have escaped from the polygamist lifestyle. I love Webb's books and can hardly wait to read the next one! pazt

National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets

I've had the DVD, "National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets," on loan from the library for a few months now and it's time to return it. It (along with National Treasure 1) has become such a favorite of my husband's that I've decided we need our own copy of "Book of Secrets" to add to our DVD library along with the first movie. I believe it's going to be an excellent Father's Day gift for him and I'll have the benefit of watching it right along with him. This sequel is just as action packed and filled with humor (and a little romance) as the first one. The treasure Ben Gates is seeking takes us back to the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln. Watching these movies is like having a history lesson presented in a way that makes it fun to learn. Ben Gates is again played by Nicolas Cage with Jon Voight as his dad plus his girlfriend and sidekick also return along with Harvey Keitel. New on the scene is Helen Mirren as his mom. Ed Harris does a superb job of playing the "villain" in this second movie. Although the ending seems to set the stage for a third movie, I've heard a rumor that it's not going to happen -- much to my disappointment! If you haven't seen either of the National Treasure movies, I suggest you check them out if you like adventure/action movies. pazt

"The World's Fastest Indian"

A few months ago I heard one of my son-in-law's friends tell him about the movie, "The World's Fastest Indian," starring Anthony Hopkins and I decided I had to find and watch that movie. It's based on the true story of Burt Munro from Invercargill, New Zealand, and relates what can happen when one person is focused on a dream and believes he can achieve it. Burt Munro was a speed bike racer who had a highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle and his goal was to make it to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in the late 1950-60's to set a land speed record. The road there and the incredible friends he made along the way who helped him achieve his goal makes a truly inspirational movie. Burt was born in 1899 and died at age 78 in 1978. He set three world records in the nine times he raced at Bonneville and was 63 when he set the first one and 68 when he set the last one riding a 47 year old machine. He was also featured in a letter to the editor in the May 1957 issue of "Popular Mechanics" magazine. In 2006 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Despite the fact that the producer took some liberties with Munro's life story, the essence of his journey to setting a world record is there and it makes for a wonderful, inspirational movie. Check this one out! pazt

"In The Presence of the Enemy"

"In The Presence of the Enemy," a mystery by Elizabeth George, is a Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers novel. I've long been a fan of the Inspector Lynley mystery series I've viewed on public television but this is the first time I can remember reading one of the books. This one was "daunting" at 517 pages but well worth the read. The novel is divided into three parts with each focusing on a different aspect of this complicated case. Ten year old Charlotte Bowen, the daughter Dennis Luxford fathered but never acknowledged at the insistence of Charlotte's mother, is kidnapped and her life is threatened if Dennis doesn't admit her existence on the front page of the newspaper he edits. Matters are complicated by the fact that Charlotte's mother is a high ranking political figure who wants to preserve her career. When Eve Bowen won't give her permission for the story to be published, Luxford contacts forensic scientist Simon St. James for help hoping to find his daughter without involving the police. St. James and his assistant, Helen, as well as St. James' wife make some headway but not before the police have to be called in. When Lynley learns of their involvement without contacting authorities, he's furious at all three of them and it adds tension to his relationship with Helen -- who he hopes to make his wife. While Lynley works on the disappearance in the London area, he sends Havers out to the countryside to follow some leads. As they work the case from both locations, clues come together that lead to a climatic ending! George does an excellent job of character development so I felt I was really in their shoes understanding their feelings -- a book not to be missed! pazt

"Still Life"

"Still Life" by Louise Penny is the first book in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. After picking up "Bury Your Dead" from my local library and reading it I knew I must read more of this series and decided to read it in order -- as is my favorite way to follow characters. This was Penny's debut novel and her talent shines throughout the book. The book is rich in details about the characters and the case but not the kind of detail that bogs down your reading but the kind that adds depth to a story and makes it come alive so that you feel like you're in the middle of the story itself. This book develops the character of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and sets the stage for the books to follow.

Why "Still Life" for a title? Page 140 of the hardback copy has a couple of paragraphs I'd like to quote to explain the title: "Life is change. If you aren't growing and evolving you're standing still, and the rest of the world is surging ahead. Most of these people are very immature. They lead 'still' lives waiting.....Waiting for someone to save them. Expecting someone to save them or at least protect them from the big, bad world. The thing is no one else can save them because the problem is theirs and so is the solution. Only they can get out of it."

If you love mysteries and want to discover a new writer and new character, don't miss Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series!

pazt

"The Oracle of Stamboul"

"The Oracle of Stamboul" is Michael David Lukas' debut novel and reads like historical fiction. Eleonora Cohen is a young girl who is a gifted prodigy and she changes the lives of all those around her including an eccentric Sultan who she charms and thus changes the course of an empire.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written novel - losing myself in the story in the day that it took me to read it. I hope to see more novels by Lukas.

pazt

"Prayers For Rain"

Dennis Lehane has written another winner in "Prayers For Rain" which may be my favorite so far in his Patrick Kenzie/Anegla Gennaro series. In this book he really fleshes out the character of Kenzie's friend, Bubba Rogowski as we learn more of why he is the way he is and who he is.

Kenzie and Gennaro have gone their separate ways but when Kenzie and his friend Bubba become involved in helping a young woman named Karen Nichols, she makes a lasting impression on Kenzie. When he forgets to call her back after receiving a phone call message from her then later hears she's committed suicide, his antenna go up and he sets out on a trail to find out why because it is so unlike the young woman he met. The path leads him back into the arms of Gennaro as well as attracting the attention of a lethal killer. The writing is stupendous and the twists and turns in this case kept me guessing to the very end.

pazt

"For The King"

"For The King" is a historical novel (full of intrigue) written by Catherine Delors and set in France in 1800. Chief Inspector Roch Miquel is a young man who seems to have everything going for him -- a future with the police, a beautiful mistress, and a loving father -- but all of that is jeopardized by an attempt on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. As he investigates the attempt on Bonaparte's life the case takes many twists and turns while his personal life begins to fall apart (as does his ability to decide who he can trust).

Delors was born and raised in France and she does an excellent job of writing about this era and bringing it alive even if it also reveals some of the gruesome events of the day - makes me glad I didn't live during the time of the revolution! Check out her web site at www.catherinedelors.com.
I definitely plan to read her other novel, "Mistress of the Revolution."

pazt