"Bury Her Deep"

"Bury Her Deep" is another Dandy Gilver novel by Catriona McPherson.  Dandy's husband's friend, the widowed Reverend Mr. Tait, has heard of her sleuthing skills (even if her husband has remained blissfully unaware) and asks her to come stay with him and his adult daughter to do some sleuthing for him.

Dandy's cover story is that she's going to present a program on budgeting at a meeting of the Rural Women's Institute so is coming to attend a meeting and do some research among its members.  However, her real purpose is to discover who has been preying on these women as they walk home from their monthly meetings and why some of them will not even admit that they've been attacked.

Although she takes Alec into her confidence, she assures him she doesn't need his help and he should just stay at home because his new house requires his attention.  Does he listen?  No ...he shows up in disguise and together they uncover what has really been going on in Rev. Tait's parish.

Although I find it easy to put down a Dandy Gilver mystery rather than having to stay up to all hours finishing it, I rarely figure out who the villain is or why!  I suspect that's why I keep reading them.....pazt

"Fletch Lives"

As a follow up to watching "Fletch," last night's viewing was "Fletch Lives."  This time Fletch (or under his journalistic name Jane Doe) has finished an assignment and is ready to head off on vacation until his boss insists he take on one more assignment.  Fletch is not too happy to have his planned vacation thwarted so, when he finds out he's inherited Belle Isle from his recently deceased aunt, he quits and leaves L.A. behind to claim his inheritance.  What he finds is a run down plantation which comes with a black caretaker, a car without brakes, and a lot of cobwebs.  His first day in his new home finds him having dinner with his aunt's attorney.  When they spend the night together and the attorney dies during the night, he suspects either he's a stud or foul play is involved.  As he puts on his journalistic hat and begins to investigate his new home, he discovers a lot of secrets that might even cost him his life.  It's an entertaining movie and I laughed a lot but maybe not quite as much as I did watching "Fletch."  Again, Chevy Chase uses his skills to portray many characters as he adopts varying disguises in his undercover work.  pazt

"Fletch"

Did you ever see the movie, "Fletch," with Chevy Chase and Geena Davis?  I thought I had but when my husband chose it for our viewing last night, nothing about it seemed familiar -- so....maybe I only saw the sequel, "Fletch Lives?"  "Fletch" was so much fun, though, as Chevy Chase portrays an investigative reporter named "Jane Doe."  I laughed my way through his investigation of drugs on the beach and his solving not only  the drug running but a case of bigamy and police corruption while preventing a murder.  Chase gets to take on many disguises in this movie which showcase his acting talents.  If you're looking for a little escapism, try watching this....pazt

"The Ocean At The End Of The Lane"

"The Ocean At The End Of The Lane" is a novel by Neil Gaiman who is a New York Times bestselling author.  Although Gaiman was born and raised in England, he now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has authored more than twenty books.  You can learn more about him at www.NeilGaiman.com and you can friend him on Facebook.

I loved this novel but it is really hard to describe.  The gist of it is that a middle aged man returns to his boyhood home in Sussex, England, for a funeral and takes a trip down memory lane when he visits the farm and the "ocean at the end of the lane."  If I had to guess what genre this book is, I'd guess part fantasy.

I loved it and have already sought out another book by Gaiman to read while I'm still digesting this one!  pazt

"The Absence of Mercy"

"The Absence of Mercy" by John Burley is this physician's first novel.  Burley himself is an emergency medicine physician in northern California and his novel features Dr. Ben Stevenson who lives in a small Ohio town with his family practice physician wife, Susan.  They have a teenage son, Thomas, as well as a second son, Joel, who is 8 years younger thanThomas.  Thonas was conceived on their honeymoon while they were both still in medical school.  In addition to his work at the hospital, Ben is the county coroner and has a young assistant, Nat.

The novel begins with the savage murder of a teenage boy found in the woods behind the high school.  This kind of thing doesn't happen in this small town and it shakes up not only Ben and Susan but the entire town where everyone has been living with a sense of knowing their neighbors and having no need to fear anyone.

When a second victim  (a teenage girl) is found barely alive, she is flown to a trauma center and eventually recovers physically from her wounds but has a lot of rehab work -- physically and mentally -- to do.  Thomas, who had seen her earlier in the evening of her attack at a party both attended, befriends her as she recovers and they become close.  Ben sees nothing wrong with it but Susan fears the relationship will end up hurting the girl again.

When a severed hand appears at the door of the coroner's office at the beginning of the first snowfall, the police and Ben are just awaiting the discovery of another body.  So, as his family decides to visit Susan's parents in Sedona, AZ, over the holidays, Ben feels he must stay behind in case the body is discovered.  Although he misses them, he's also glad to have them safely out of the area.  Little does he know how all of these murders will impact his entire family and their lives.  It's just beginning!

Burley is an excellent author and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his novel and loved the way it progressed with  all the information I might have needed to solve it myself if I'd been paying close enough attention to the clues.  In some ways, it is left hanging at the end which to me means there could be a sequel to this one.  When I looked to see if he'd written another book ("Absence of Mercy" was published in 2013), I discovered that he does have a book coming out on 2/10/2015, entitled "The Forgetting Place" but I don't know if it is a stand alone novel or a sequel to this book.  His work is outstanding enough that I've already marked my calendar to look for this one next year. pazt

"Cut and Run"

"Cut and Run" is another Joe Hunter thriller by Matt Hilton and I've been reading the series in order since I discovered Hilton and Hunter.  I've learned to put everything else aside when I start one of these books so I planned the day after Thanksgiving as the day to read "Cut and Run" in its entirety.

Joe Hunter is Ex-CIA and Special Ops who came from England originally.  He's made a lot of enemies during his covert career but he is puzzled by current events.  Someone (who looks enough like him to be him or his twin) is murdering people in his name.  When the police want to question him, more people end up dead and Hunter realizes he has to be free to solve who is behind this and why they are targeting him and his friends.  But where can he turn for help -- who will help him now?

Although there are clues throughout as to possible suspects behind what appears to be revenge pure and simple, even I was blown away when I discovered who was pulling the strings behind the scenes and who was helping him or her.  This is another great read by Hunter full of twists and turns.  Reading it is like being there and I can't help but wonder how Hilton knows so much about the world of covert ops.  pazt

"Mind Prey"

I'm reading John Sandford's Lucas Davenport "Prey" series in order and just finished "Mind Prey" which (like his other books) kept me on the edge of my seat while reading yet another of his satisfying thrillers.  It's an over three hundred page hardback which I couldn't read in one setting so I have to confess that I did peek at the ending along the way.  Despite that I did read every word of the book!

Deputy Chief Lucas Davenport is called in to help find Andi Manette, a psychiatrist, who was kidnapped along with her two young daughters as they were leaving the girls' school.  Everyone close to her is a suspect -- her estranged husband, her business partner, her father, her stepmother, and her patients.  Lucas knows that time is of the essence in a kidnapping if they hope to find them alive so he and his team go into overdrive looking for clues that might tell them who is behind the kidnapping and what it is they hope to achieve from it.  Will there be a ransom or is this revenge for something?

In the meantime, Manette and her daughters are being held in an isolated farmhouse and, while Lucas tries to find them in time, she works with her daughters to save all of them from a captor obsessed with her.  As is usual with the Sandford novels I've read, this one is full of twists and turns as we follow Lucas' investigation.  Sandford is an amazing story teller!  pazt

"The Killing Moon"

"The Killing Moon" is N. K. Jemisin's first book in her new Dreamblood series.  It was published in 2012 and a second book was due out in 2013.

Although I love to read Jemisin's books, I have to admit to having some difficulty figuring out the worlds she creates.  Reading this one might have been easier if I'd discovered the Glossary in the back of the book before I started reading it versus after I'd finished it!  Jemisin does such a good job of creating an alternate world that it is like reading a foreign language in English at times.

"The Killing Moon" is set in the ancient city-state of Gujaareh and revolves around the ruling Prince and his only surviving sibling - a brother, Ehiru.  While the Prince rules, Ehiru is a "Gatherer" - one of those responsible for enforcing Hananja's law.  The principle tenet of this law is peace.  Gatherers are responsible for culling the final dream that occurs at the moment of death because it is useful for bringing peace.

In carrying out his duties, Ehiru discovers something amiss in Gujaareh and he can't continue to carry out his duties without further investigation.  However, that puts his own life at risk as well as the lives of anyone around him.  As he uncovers a plot to threaten the peace, it will lead to a showdown with his brother, the Prince, as well as an attempt to stave off a war.

Now that I've clued you in about the glossary at the end of the book, you have an opportunity read it with much more understanding all along rather than trying to puzzle it out on your own like I did!  Learn more about this author at www.nkjemisin.com and read her humorous self-interview at the end of this book.   pazt

"The Illusion of Separateness"

"The Illusion of Separateness" by Simon Van Booy is one of two novels he has written in addition to a couple of collections of short stories, a children's bedtime story picture book, and he's also edited  three non-fiction philosophy books.  Van Booy was awarded an MFA and won the H. R. Hays Poetry Prize as well as the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award.  He has written for the New York Times, the Guardian, NPR, and BBC.

Van Booy was born in London and grew up in South Wales and Oxford before playing football in Kentucky.  He has lived in Athens and Paris and currently resides in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.  His web site is www.SimonVanBooy.com.

Although "The Illusion of Separateness" is a novel, it reads like a series of short stories and the author writes brief chapters on his characters.  The story is  inspired by true events and tells the interwoven stories of "a deformed German infantryman; a lonely British film director; a young, blind museum curator; two Jewish American newlyweds separated by war; and a caretaker at a retirement home for actors in Santa Monica."

In the acknowledgements at the end of the book, Van Booy tells us about the real life people who inspired this story.

It's a quick, fascinating read that I couldn't put down. Reading this makes me want to read more of his work so I'm moving next to one of his collection of short stories.  pazt

"rizzoli & isles" The Complete Fourth Season

The complete fourth season of "rizzoli & isles" again features Angie Harmon as Detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Dr. Maura Isles.  This is my favorite season to date and I'm disappointed that the fifth season is not yet available on DVD!

In addition to solving homicides (and there are some interesting cases here with some unexpected outcomes!) this season takes us into the personal lives of Jane and Maura at a deeper level that really allows us to gain more insights into them and their families.  Every member of Jane's family is highlighted at some point in the series including her father who divorced and abandoned her mother and moved off to Florida.  He's in for a surprise when he discovers his ex-wife is a new person -- a very strong woman with a new life that doesn't include him.

Maura is drawn into the lives of her birth family including her gangster grandfather who never wanted her to be born.  As she struggles to be a sister and a daughter/granddaughter, Jane provides support and some great insights.

Jane is also struggling over her relationship with Lt. Col. Casey Jones.  He returns to Boston on leave and asks her to marry him.  However, he's in line for a promotion and could become a general - something he's always wanted.  How can Jane ask him to leave the Army now?  On the other hand, how can he ask Jane to leave a job that she loves and is very good at.  Maura finds it hard to be objective because she doesn't want Jane to leave either.

The season ends -- as do a lot of seasons -- with unresolved questions thus my disappointment at not being able to start season 5 immediately!  pazt

"I'll Never Be Long Gone"

I'll Never Be Long Gone" is the third of 5 novels by Thomas Christopher Greene but the first one I have read.  This one features brothers Charlie and Owen Bender who must put their lives together after their father's death and their mother's return from rural Vermont to New York City where she and their dad lived in their early married years.

Charlie inherits the restaurant his father owned and invested his life in while Owen is left a note by his father telling him to follow his own path -- wherever that might take him.  The brothers have always been close but the death of their father separates them as Charlie lives alone in the family home and runs the restaurant and Owen sets off to find himself.  Enter Claire (Owen's high school girlfriend) who takes a job in the restaurant as a chef working along side Charlie and romance blossoms but what will happen if/when Owen returns?

This is a story of complex family dynamics and love and loss -- very well written which means I'll be checking out his first book, "Mirror Lake," next.  pazt

"Fifty Shades of Kale" Cookbook

"Fifty Shades of Kale" is a 2013 cookbook authored by Dr. Drew Ramsey (of DrewRamseyMD.com) and Jennifer Iserloh (of http://skinnychef.com or Skinny Chef on Social Media).

Three years ago when I began helping individuals adopt a healthier lifestyle and change their eating patterns, I discovered Kale -- mostly in the form of Kale Chips.  However, my version of Kale Chips is time consuming and disappointing because the chips are gone so soon after they come out of the oven!  I love to eat them but hate spending the time making something that, though obviously liked, disappears so quickly.

I recently discovered "Fifty Shades of Kale" at my local library and took it on my ocean getaway with me.  There is a wealth of information in there about Kale and why it is so good for us.  Did you know that it delivers a huge dose of Vitamin K (more than 600% of your daily allowance per serving) and more vitamin C than an orange?  This book is full of those facts and many more.  A caution, though, it is best to buy organic kale and read this book for tips on how to wash, store and prepare kale as well as what else to have in your pantry to be well equipped to make the kale dishes they provide recipes for.

The sections are:

"Morning Quickies" which includes a Huevos Rancheros dish that I plan to try very soon but there are several others in this section that appeal to me.  I choose to make the  Huevos Rancheros  a quick supper, though, for me and my spouse along with some fruit.

"Small Bites" and again there are many recipes in this section I want to try but the "Kale with Goat Cheese and Dried Cherries" sounds so yummy that it has to be one of my first to test.

"Vegetarian Bliss" also has several recipes to tempt me and, even though I'm trying to avoid dairy products, I am going to try the "Grilled Cheese 'n Kale."  T"he "Warm Kale With Beets and Ginger" as well as the "Black Bean Soup with Fresh Lime" and the "Green Pizza" are at the top of my list, too.

"Get Satisfied" includes a number of meat dishes and although I am trying to wean myself away from meat, it's hard for a  girl formerly from Kansas who grew up on beef and poultry fresh from her grandparents' farms.  That said I believe I will get some free range chicken and try the "Chicken Enchiladas" - are you getting a hint that I like Mexican food?  Who could resist the "Beef and Kale Tacos" and a "Beef Burger with Grilled Kale" or the "Pasta e Fagioli" either?  Ok, so I'm not even going to try resisting!  I might try some meat substitutes and see if those will be just as satisfying in these dishes.

The "Naughty and Nice" section has a recipe for "Chocolate Chip Kale Cookies" that looks absolutely delicious and the "Dark Tropical Kiss" appears to be a dessert version of "Kale chips" that I must try.

There's also a "Party With Your Girl" section that gives general ideas about adding Kale to party appetizers.  The "Get Sneaky with Her" shows you ways to add Kale to some of your favorite dishes to make sure you add it to your diet daily.

Much appreciated is the Metric Conversion Chart and other charts in the back as well as the list of Resources..

This is one of the most "energizing" cookbooks I've read in a while -- I want to go out and buy ingredients and start testing these recipes immediately so tomorrow I'm going to do just that!  pazt

"Grain Mains - 100 Surprising and Satisfying Whole Grain Recipes for Every Meal of the Day"

"Grain Mains - 101 Surprising and Satisfying Whole Grain Recipes for Every Meal of the Day" is a meat-friendly, vegan, and vegetarian cookbook authored by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough.  I am trying to move toward a more plant-based diet so I checked out this recipe book from my local library.  It is full of good information about why eating grains can benefit my health as well as recipes that make me want to go to the kitchen and start cooking.

The book is divided into 4 sections:  Introduction, Early, Cold, and Warm.  Vegan and Vegetarian recipes are clearly marked throughout and some non vegan and non vegetarian recipes have tips to make them so.
The introduction is thorough and covers types of grains and cooking methods.

Since it is easiest to get my spouse to try something new if it is at least familiar, I'll probably start with the burger recipes - maybe the Barley and Pecan Burgers first or the Black Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers?  For myself I want to try all the breakfast ones!  There are a couple of slow-cooker porridge recipes that should make the mornings I work go more smoothly. 

I love cookbooks - in fact, I think I may gain weight just from reading them.  I used to collect them more than I used them so now I'm checking them out from the library before I make a decision as to whether I want this book permanently in my home.  Will it be something I'll use regularly?  I'm still testing this one but I love all the good information in it and the recipes appear to be user friendly.  The more complicated ones I may avoid because I'm into simple, healthy cooking these days.  pazt

"Gone For Good"

"Gone for Good" is another thriller by Harlan Coben full of twists and turns and surprises throughout!

As Will Klein's mother lies dying, she tells him that his older brother, Ken, who has been presumed dead is actually alive.  Ken disappeared after his former girlfriend was found murdered in her family's basement eleven years ago.  He was presumed to have either been the murderer or another victim now dead.

After his mother's funeral, Will begins to search for the truth while his father and older sister urge him to leave it alone as they are convinced his brother is dead.  As he pursues the truth, though, the younger sister of the murdered girl comes to him offering her assistance.  Will they discover the truth or only cause more heartache along the way and endanger their own lives?

As usual, Coben has crafted a tale that I couldn't put down and I look forward to reading another of his books soon!  pazt

"A Madness of Angels"

"A Madness of Angels" (Or, The Resurrection of Matthew Swift) is Kate Griffin's first novel for adults.  Griffin is the pseudonym for Catherine Webb who is a Carnegie Medal nominated Young Adult author based in London.  Go to www.kategriffin.net to learn more about this fantasy author who apparently also writes under another pseudonymn - Claire North!  Her first novel was published when she ws 14 years old under the name of Catherine Webb.

The "A Madness of Angels" version I read is a 458 page hardback book which I had to keep returning to the library and requesting again because the size of the book was daunting and I was never willing to put it ahead of the other books I had checked out from the library.  However, my spouse and I just went on a mini vacation to the Washington coast .  ( If you haven't discovered the cabins at Kalaloch Lodge, they are not to be missed.  Off-season pricing also helps.  We settled into Cabin 5 for 4 nights with our books plus DVD's to watch on our laptop because these rooms do not come with TV's or phones and the only cell phone coverage I had was texting and even that wasn't always reliable.  We had a free breakfast at the lodge every morning so we'd eat late then I'd cook a very simple meal for an early dinner and our final meal was nuts and chocolates while we were watching a DVD later in the evening.  That left me lots of time for reading and I was able to finish one book while I was there, make notes on a couple of cookbooks I had checked out from the library, and spend a day+ reading this complete novel.)

Two years after he dies Matthew Swift, the sorcerer, is alive again -- coming back to life on the floor in the master bedroom of his old residence but now someone else is living there.  He stumbles out of the house and immediately is in danger of being killed again.  As he tries to protect himself, he begins to search for his old friends and finds they were all killed after he was.  The world has changed a lot in the last two years but he is seeking vengeance and pulls together an unlikely assortment to help him find it.

This novel is set in London where my oldest daughter, who is married to a Brit, has lived for the past sixteen years -- making it a great vacation spot for me and my spouse.  I loved the references to spots in London that I've been to that are interwoven in this fantasy.

The author also has some great insights into homelessness as well as compassion for the homeless.  The first discourse is on page 157 of the hardback version and I particularly like the last paragraph;  "Thus, with a single swoop, the entire population of old, young, black, white, frightened, bold, subdued, cowering, cold, ill, hungry, thirsty, dirty or addicted are classified as self-destructive, and every ignored face, every shadow blotted out of the memory of the stranger on the street, can be classed by a single word - failed."

My church did a project earlier this year involving the homeless in our area and it has helped me look at those asking for money at street corners in a new light.  My goal is to help when I can and not judge nor make assumptions about how they might spend any money I give them.  I felt this same sense of non-condemnation throughout the book and it was a wonderful reminder for me because this way of thinking is new to me and needs reaffirming.

At the top of page 293 there is a section about giving money to charities and using that as a way of justifying not giving to someone on the street because you've allocated your resources elsewhere and can feel like you're doing your part that way.

Another section I really enjoyed was on page 363 (a section better left for you to read!) where Matthew is having a conversation with a nurse treating him and it's about the 3 things that make Britain great - the  first is their inability to play sports but their willingness to keep trying because this year it might be different.  The second thing is the BBC and the third is the NHS.

So, now that I've made it through "A Madness of Angels" and liked it what next?  There are three more books in the Matthew Swift series so it's time to move on to the next one.  When I finish this series, the author has another one plus the books she's written under 2 other names.  She's also young so I look forward to reading her for years to come!  pazt

Apologies To My Censor"

Mitch Moxley's first (and I think only book so far) is "Apologies to My Censor - The High and Low Adventures of a Foreigner in China."  It is well written as well as fun and quick to read.

Mitch is a journalist who was tired of his life in Canada and not sure where his journalistic career was headed so he decided to accept a job as a writer and editor for the state owned "China Daily" -- China's only English-language national newspaper.  His timing was good becaue the Chinese economy was booming with the coming Olympics and Beijing was being turned into a world class city overnight.  There was only one slight hitch -- nothing could be published without the okay of the  Chinese government so, for example, when the German Prime Minister had a meeting with the Dalai Lama, her name couldn't be mentioned in "China Daily" for some period of time.

Originally, Mitch went on a year contract to "China Daily" but, when that contract ended, he managed to stay on to help cover the Olympics.  All in all he stayed in Beijing for six years as a freelance writer.  This book is about the expat life in China and his adventures including being hired to pose as a fake businessman.  He also investigated and wrote articles on the sex trade and importation of young women from Mongolia who had no idea what they'd really be doing in China and too ashamed to go home afterwards.  He also looks at China's rascist issues -- Although many Chinese live and thrive in Africa, after the Olympics China began to persecute African businessmen who had been successfully exporting Chinese goods to Africa while living in China.

Mitch has a way of bringing his stories to life and he makes his life in China interesting -- although not always easy.  I thoroughly enjoyed his book and hope it won't be his last.  It was the first I read of several books that I took on holiday with me this past week.  pazt

"Slash and Burn"

Matt Hilton's "Slash and Burn" features Joe Hunter again who is enjoying some much needed time off but when Kate Piers approaches him requesting his help in finding her missing sister it's hard for him to turn her down.  After all her dead brother once served with Joe plus there's also the fact that Kate is a pretty great looking woman.

When Kate and Joe go to Imogen's Kentucky home and are attacked by thugs, they know they're on to something -- but what?  What has Imogen got herself into and can they find and help her.?  When they discover links to organized crime, they may have bitten off more than they can chew.  This is a fast paced engrossing thriller -- don't miss it!  pazt

"A Gate At The Stairs"

"A Gate At The Stairs" is a novel by Lorrie Moore.  When a friend asked what I thought of it, I had a difficult time coming up with an answer.  Ms. Moore is a wonderful prose writer with great descriptions but sometimes I felt like the story got lost in the multitude of words and, no -- I have nothing against words!

The protagonist is 20 year old Tassie Keltjin who is off for her first year of college post 9/11.  Tassie has an unusual family consisting of her mother, father, and younger brother.  One of my favorite family dynamics story came on page 42 of the hardback when Tassie's brother brings a report card home with 4 F's and a D.  His father looks at the card and says, "Well, Robert, what can I say.  Four Fs and a D: it looks like you're spending too much time on one course!"

As Tassie goes off into the college world, she finds a job on her own as well as a relationship.  She has a roommate she shares an apartment with but her roommate has already abandoned her to live with a boyfriend so she sees her only occasionally.  Tassie divides her time between her job as a nanny, her boyfriend, and schoolwork.

The book is about relationships, love, and loss but they're odd relationships for the most part and how one young woman could be embroiled in so many strange scenarios is beyond me.  However, as the end of the book shows us, there is some learning going on with Tassie.
 
Although getting through this book was slow for me, I won't give up -- I will give the author another chance by trying another of Moore's books.  pazt

"When You Give A Duke A Diamond"

"When You Give A Duke A Diamond" is Shana Galen's first book in the Jewels of the Ton series.  Although this historical fiction is a love story, it does have murder, mayhem, and mystery to recommend it.  The Duke of Pelham has a very orderly life and he likes it that way.  However, on the eve of his announcing his engagement to Elizabeth, a proper young woman from a good family, his life is turned upside down.  His name is linked with Juliette, the Duchess of Dalliance, and his fiance disappears.

What the Duke (or William) didn't expect was that Juliette would claim to have seen his fiance murdered by a man named Lucifer and come to him for protection because she feels her life is in danger.  William doesn't take this seriously until the Magistrate confirms there is a Lucifer who runs a gambling house and is known to be very dangerous.  He also confirms that Elizabeth's parents have reported her missing.  He urges William to take Juliette to the country for their safekeeping until Elizabeth is found and the threat from Lucifer is gone.

What no one expected was that Juliette would discover William's family childhood secrets and totally upset his schedule and his life and that they would fall in love.  But....how can a Duke marry a courtesan?

In my younger days I would have read every word of their lovemaking episodes but it has little interest for me these days so I skim those sections.  After all, I have true love in my life!  I found this book pure fluff and an easy read -- perfect for lying in bed and recovering from a slight illness.  pazt

"Howl's Moving Castle" DVD

The DVD, "Howl's Moving Castle," is an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki bringing the children's book of the same name to the big screen.  The voices bringing it to life are provided by Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal. 

Sophie is a young woman quietly running her family's hat making business after the death of her father.  Her sister has opened a bakery and her mother is not around at this time for some vague reason.  On her way to visit her sister's new shop she runs into some strange creatures on the street and is rescued by a handsome and mysterious wizard named Howl.  After Howl sees Sophie safely returned home she receives a visit from the scary Witch of the Waste who puts a spell on Sophie turning her into an old woman.  The spell also doesn't allow her to tell anyone what has happened.

Since she can't stay around the shop where no one will know who she is in her present state, she takes off to find Howl and discovers his magnificant flying castle and begins an adventure of her own.  Sophie is a strong female role model who perseveres in the face of adversity while dealing with some pretty strange events.  In the end who saves who?   pazt 

"The Devil's Code"

John Sandford's "The Devil's Code" is his third novel in the Kidd Series.  In a postscript "Author's Note" section, Sandford reveals that hacker/artist Kidd was his first "thriller anti-hero" and not his very popular Lucas Davenport. When the Davenport series started selling so well, Sandford put Kidd in storage but he kept getting requests to bring Kidd back.  One very persuasive plea came from his son Ros, who knows a lot about computers himself, so Sandford told Ros he'd write another Kidd novel if Ros would help him brainstorm some ideas.  The result is "The Devil's Code" and it's an excellent read.

When a friend of his is killed, Kidd doesn't buy the story about why or even how so he and LuEllen decide to investigate.  As a result, both their lives and the lives of anyone who helps them are put at risk.  This is another Sandford action packed, fast moving novel that is hard to put down!  It didn't even matter that I didn't understand a lot of the computer "stuff."  pazt

"The Corpse Had A familiar Face"

"The Corpse Had A Familiar Face" is Pulitzer Prize winning author Edna Buchanan's autobiography recounting her 18 years as a reporter working the police beat for the Miami Herald.  I've read the first two books in her Britt Montero mystery series and reading this book gives me a hint as to where she got the ideas for her fictional mysteries.

Buchanan's autobiography is a fascinating read by itself -- as good as any novel.  One of the keys to her reporting was in the details -- details that bring victims to life and help them be remembered.  She also has a great sense of humor.

I look forward to reading the rest of her fictional books, too, and just ordered the third Britt Montero mystery delivered to my Kindle.  pazt

"The Guards"

I watched the brief season of "Jack Taylor" on Roku which made me crave more so I checked out Ken Bruen's first book in the Jack Taylor series, "The Guards."  It is a lot like the TV series so seemed familiar but I love his use of quotes at the beginning of most chapters and his style of writing brief chapters.  It's hard to describe what is so appealing about his work but author David Means is quoted as saying "If Elmore Leonard got together with James Joyce to write a Spencer novel, this is what you'd get.!"  I think that might be the best description of Bruen's writing style.

I just spent a couple of days lazing around reading while recovering from a sinus infection and this was the third book I read and my quickest read.  I'm already looking for the second book in the series.  pazt

"The Ottoman Cage - A Novel of Istanbul"

Barara Nadel's second novel in the Inspector Cetin Ikmen mystery series is "The Ottoman Cage" and is set in Istanbul.

When a young man's body is found in a secret apartment without any identification, Ikmen and his staff have their work cut out for them trying to learn who rented the apartment and who the victim is.  Forensic pathologist, Arto Sarkissian, and his good friend, Ikmen, have worked closely together in the past and this case has them not only mingling socially but spending a lot of time together on the job trying to discover the victim's identity as well as why he appeared to be so well cared for then so callously killed and discarded.

Ikmen has his own personal problems with a wife in pain from fibroids at home who not only has responsibility for their nine children but is caring for his father and the latter is causing her more and more challenges each day.  That seems reason enough for Ikmen to be glad of work to keep him busy and away from home.

His staff have their own challenges on the home front and this novel weaves a tale of their private and professional lives that adds human interest to solving the murder.  As I read the story, I wished I was more knowledgeable about Armenian and Turkish history.  Nadel weaves a fascinating tale involving this culture.  pazt

"Death By Deep Dish Pie"

Sharon Short's second Stain-Bustin Mystery is "Death By Deep Dish Pie" and our heroine, Josie Toadfern, is looking forward to the upcoming July 4th Founders Day celebration and taking her cousin, Guy, to the fireworks display.  However, events at the annual Breitenstrater Pie Company's pie-eating contest tend to overshadow the whole celebration when the company's owner dies and Josie is once again thrown into a police investigation trying to clear those that she loves.

This is another delightful and light mystery -- an easy read.    An added bonus -- Josie's stain busting hints at the end and info about the author who can be contacted at sharon@sharonshort.com.  pazt

"Theft On Thursday"

"Theft on Thursday is author Ann Purser's 4th book in her Lois Meade mystery series.  In this book Lois has a thriving cleaning business to manage without many personnel issues until she takes on a new cleaner, Sharon, who has a flair for the dramatic, a love of romance novels and an eye for the young men.  However, it's Sharon's actual "wandering" eye which she refuses to have fixed surgically that attracts the attention of a local cult.

In the meantime, there's a new choirmaster, Sandy, who has unclear ties to the newly installed minister he's living with until he finds his own place.  In addition to selling real estate in a nearby town, Sandy turns out to be a bit of a charmer with his eye not only on Sharon but Rebecca as well.  Rebecca and Lois' cleaner, Bill, live together and he's concerned enough to attend choir practice himself just to keep an eye on the situation.  Will this be the end of Bill and Rebecca's romance?

Although Lois' husband, Derek, is wary of her having any involvement again with Chief Inspector Cowgill, Cowgill asks for her help and Lois enjoys the challenge.  Lois and Derek are almost empty nesters but their youngest son, Jamie, is still at home until he leaves for school in the fall.  He's dating Annabelle, the granddaughter of a local wealthy woman, and this romance does not meet with her favor and has Derek and Lois concerned as well.  Since Annabelle may have had ties to the local cult at some level, Cowgill enlists Lois to help him keep an eye on the situation.  When people start dying, though, the investigation takes a more serious turn.

I think this may be my favorite Lois Meade mystery so far as it weaves not only a complicated tale but involves some complicated relationships!  pazt

"Vixen"

Ken Bruen's "Vixen" was difficult for me to follow at times and now I think I know why -- It's the fifth book in Bruen's Inspector Brant Series so it might have made more sense if I'd started with the first book in the series, "A White Arrest."

"Vixen" focuses on a case involving a series of lethal explosions across London which it turns out are being masterminded by a sensuous, crazed female serial killer.  It's a tough case with twists and turns and deaths!

I've seen part of the "Jack Taylor" TV series which is based on books by Bruen and I enjoyed that so I think I'll read the first book in that series next then decide if I want to read more of Bruen.  Anyone out there that has him on their favorites list?  pazt

"Dead Between The Lines"

"Dead Between The Lines" is another Denise Swanson Devereaux's Dime Store Mystery - third in the series.  Devereaux Ann Sinclair (known as Dev to her friends) is facing a lot of challenges:  Her father is being released from prison soon exonerated for a crime he didn't commit.  The physical reactions she felt when inside the prison made it too difficult to visit him behind bars and she wonders how he is going to feel about that as well as how he's going to support himself and if he'll be accepted back into the community.

In addition, she has started seeing her childhood sweetheart, Dr. Noah Underwood, but another man whose handsome looks make her melt when she sees him is back in town - Deputy U. S. Marshal Jake Del Vecchio.  He's talking about quitting his job and acting as foreman for his uncle's ranch because he is seriously interested in Dev and the possibility of their having a future together.  Since she doesn't know if she can trust either man yet, she proposes that she date both of them.  What can they say about that?  They really don't have a choice!

When a local book club asks to meet at her dime store, she knows she needs the extra money so she says yes.  It doesn't turn out so well, though, when the guest speaker turns up dead outside her back door the next morning.  Someone also thinks Dev may know something about the murderer's identity and threatens her.  While Noah must spend his time with his ailing mother at the hospital and her close friends are away, Jake jumps in to help Dev solve the murder while protecting her.  But....the murderer strikes when Dev is alone and feeling safe - will she be able to fight him or her off or ?????

If you want to find out who is behind the murder and where Dev's love life appears to be heading, read the book!  pazt

"Miami it's Murder"

Edna Buchanan's second book in the Britt Montero series is "Miami it's Murder" and it doesn't disappoint.
Britt's detective friend, Dan Flood, has retired from the police force but not willingly - He has health issues he's dealing with.  With the death of Dan's daughter then his wife and Britt not having a father they have bonded like a father/daughter and regularly get together over lunch to talk about the old days and current cases.  Dan has some regrets about some cases he never could solve including one where he suspects a teenage boy killed an 8 year old girl.  He'd sure like to solve that one since the "boy" is now set to be elected as the next governor of Florida.  Britt decides it's worth looking into but isn't getting a lot of cooperation.

In the meantime, there is a rapist hiding out in public women's restrooms and attacking women.  Britt bullies the police into letting her write about it and the rapist sends her messages letting her know he's not happy about her coverage and everyone around her, including Dan and her other police friends, believe she's making herself a target.

At the scene where a car is being pulled out of the water with a body inside, Britt meets a handsome tour boat captain who takes an interest in her and makes her former boyfriend, Lt. Kendall McDonald jealous.  McDonald isn't ready to get involved with Britt again, though, and possibly interfere with the positive direction his career appears to be taking.  Will Britt be able to move on and find a new relationship?

As if that weren't enough happening at the moment, there are three suspicious deaths -- the first two appear to be accidents but the last one is definitely murder.  The interesting connection is that all three victims were previously implicated in three different murders but either got off on technicalities or there wasn't enough evidence to connect.  Their methods of dying match the methods their supposed victims died.  When Britt starts reviewing the cases, she discovers evidence at the last scene that leads her to one of the biggest stories of her career and a surprise ending.

I can see why Edna Buchanan was a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter because she's a master at weaving mystery novels, too.  pazt

"Night Prey"

John Sandord's "Night Prey" is the sixth book in his Prey series featuring Lucas Davenport.  The new Minneapolis Police Chief, who is fighting to retain her job and has political aspirations, calls in Lucas to help solve a murder which one of her female detectives is fixated on -- in the wrong direction many think.

Meagan O'Connell sees a link between a series of murders that others aren't seeing and she's determined to find the truth before she dies and, given she has a terminal illness, she doesn't have a lot of time.  As a result, she comes across very pushy alienating a lot of her fellow officers.  When Meagan and Lucas are paired, he finds her difficult to work with but also has a respect for her instincts and the clues she's put together so far.

In the meantime, we have a view into Koop -- a burglar who seems to have a need to pick up a woman about once a year and kill her then abandon the body in various locations.  When he burglarizes Sara Jensen's apartment, he becomes fixated on her -- so much so that he spends a lot of his time spying on her and several people are murdered when they get in his way.  He's also finding his need to kill increasing and maybe that will cause a misstep that will enable Lucas and Meagan todiscover and stop him.

Lucas is in a semi-committed relationship with a female doctor, Weather, who he met in the last Prey book.  She has moved to Minneapolis to live with him and they are juggling their separate careers and their opposite work shifts fairly well.  Will Lucas be tempted, though, when a female reporter comes on to him?  Will this be the end of his relationship with Weather or just a bump in the road?

As is usual with Sandford's books, it is rich in detail and fast paced keeping me up late at night to finish the book!  pazt

"Contents Under Pressure"

"Contents Under Pressure" is Edna Buchanan's first suspense novel in the Britt Montero series.  Buchanan is a journalist in Miami, Fl, described as "one of America's most exotic and dangerous cities."  Britt Montero, her heroine in this series is a crime reporter for a major Miami newspaper so I'm assuming Buchanan has drawn on her own experience in writing this novel.

The story begins as Britt becomes aware of an auto accident that has left a black man with fatal injuries.  However, he is not just any black man -- He's a former football star with a wife and three young children who works in the poverty-ridden area he grew up in to mentor young black boys to try to get them on a path to a better life.

As Britt uncovers more of the story, she finds it difficult to get details from the police and not all the facts seem to gel so she continues her investigation while also maintaining her daily coverage of major crimes.  She uses her sources within the police department although many of them are very reluctant to talk about this case except for one female policewoman friend who also works the night shift.  She is willing to share anonymous info with Brit about the police "screw ups" who tend to be moved to the midnight shift.  They're the ones that tend to be harder to control, full of rage -- in a word, dangerous.  It was a number of these cops who were chasing this black man on the night he died -- after a BOLO was issued describing his car.

The more she investigates the more hostile some of the cops become towards her and she receives death threats and her clandestine love relationship may not make it if she continues her digging.

I love Buchanan's style of writing and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.  She doesn't make Miami and its high crime statistics sound like a place I'd like to visit, though.  Maybe that's why her female editor is always trying to get her to dampen her stories and write more fluff pieces that won't scare the tourists away!  pazt

"Loving Frank"

"Loving Frank" is a novel by Nancy Horan based on the true affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney.  After Edwin Cheney and his wife, Mamah, commissioned Frank to design a new home for them in Oak Park, Il (a Chicago suburb), the Cheneys became friends with Frank and his wife.  Eventually Frank and Mamah became lovers and decided to leave their spouses and children to be with each other.  It was quite a scandal in the 1920's and eventually Mamah won a divorce from Edwin with summer visitation by her children.  Frank's wife would not grant him a divorce, however, so Frank continued to support her and his children while building a new home, Taliesin, in Wisconsin for he and Mamah.

The relationship took a toll on their friendships and their families as well as on Frank's career but they appear to have been kindred spirits.  Frank had a big ego and Mamah seemed destined to be an "independent" woman and they were suited to each other and remained together until her death.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fictional account of their romance and was so interested in Mamah and her ability to break away from the traditional female roles of her time that I decided to look her up and learn more about her before I finished the book.  That was a mistake!  If you don't already know the story, I highly recommend you finish reading the book before researching her further!  pazt

"Death Of A Domestic Diva"

Sharon Short's "Death of A Domestic Diva" is a Toadfern Mystery read.  These mysteries are light, fun and quick which is great for a summer novel.  In this episode laundromat owner, Josie Toadfern, is trying to put her small town back on the map by inviting Tyra Grime's, a TV show host knowledgeable on all things domestic, to town to air an episode spotlighting Josie and her stain busting remedies.  However, Josie gets more than she bargained for when Tyra actually brings bad publicity to town and arrives with her own hidden agenda.  Josie ends up with the town angry at her and two murders to solve.  pazt

"Tell No One"

Harlan Coben's "Tell No One" is one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time and I've read some very good ones recently.  This one kept me on the edge of my seat and not wanting to put this book down!  There is corruption, greed, parental love, romantic love, friendship, and a rich man who believes he is above the law because he wants revenge.

Dr. David Beck and his attorney wife, Elizabeth, have known each other since childhood and were in love a long time before they married.  They have a ritual that involves returning to a childhood camp owned by David's grandfather but now abandoned.  They like to celebrate the anniversary of their first kiss there and carve their initials in a tree.  However, this year it goes very wrong.  David is knocked out and falls into the lake and Elizabeth is kidnapped.  She's later found murdered and it's determined to be the work of a serial killer.  Since David is in the hospital, his father in-law and Elizabeth's uncle (both cops) identify her body.  Everyone is devastated.

Fast forward a few years and David has put his life back together and tried to move on but just can't seem to do it.  When he receives an e-mail routed through a secure source one day, he is sure it is from his dead wife and she urges him to "Tell No One" that she's in contact with him.  However, as he begins to investigate to see if there is even a possibility that her body was misidentified, federal agents come looking for him thinking he may have been the one to kill his wife -- or set it up.  While he's defending himself, his life and the lives of those he talks to are in danger and he turns to a source he never thought he'd call on for help.

This book just keeps twisting and turning until it comes to a very surprising end!  It's definitely worth reading!
pazt

"Naked Came The Manatee"

"Naked Came The Manatee" is a novel written by thirteen Florida writers who have penned best sellers, hit movies, top-rated TV shows, and won Pulitzer Prizes.  This novel is unique in that each of them wrote one of its thirteen chapters.

It all started as a serial novel in 1995 for "The Miami Herald's Tropic" magazine as completed chapters were passed on to the next writer.  Florida became hooked and eagerly awaited the next publication.  The authors are Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry, James W. Hall, Edna Buchanan, Les Standiford, Paula Levine, Brian Antoni, Tananarive Due, John Dufresne, Vicki Hendricks, Evelyn Mayerson, and Carolina Hospital.  I've read books by Carl Hiaassen and they are always a lot of fun and I've just recently discovered Edna Buchanan so I sought this book at my local library.  Evidently it's out of print but they did have a hardback copy.

It was an easy and light read in the beginning but with each subsequent chapter (and the change in author and sometimes a very different turn in the plot) I had a more difficult time remembering and/or keeping up with the story.  It's an interesting concept but not one that maybe should be tried with any regularity in my opinion.  pazt

"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"

"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" is a Disney movie based on the true story of a runaway orphan, Sonora Webster.  Sonora is played by Gabrielle Anwar (also starring in TV's "Burn Notice") and I believe this may have been one of her first roles.

After Sonora's parents die, she and her younger sister are taken in by her mother's aunt but it's the depression and Sonora's attitude and the lack of money for food leads her aunt to the decision to place Sonora only in the care of the state.  Instead Sonora runs away to find Doc Carver's traveling show because she's seen his ad asking for a "diving girl" for a death defying stunt.  Sonora is sure she can do the job without even knowing what it is and she is determined.

Sonora finds the show but is turned away by Doc Carver.  However, as I said, she is persistent and she finally gets a job mucking out stables with the show.  When she comes to the attention of Doc's gambling son, he takes a shine to her and together they secretly train a horse that he won in a poker game.  Doc thinks the horse is untrainable but they prove otherwise and Sonora shows Doc that she can be a "diving girl" and, in fact, steals the show.  However, a tragedy threatens to keep her from performing but it appears nothing can keep Sonora down for long.  This is a very heartwarming story.  pazt

"Rizzoli & Isles" - The Complete Third Season

My hubby and I just completed the third season of "rizzoli & isles" on DVD and he was hesitant to watch the last episode because all the other seasons have been cliff hangers and he doesn't like waiting until the beginning of the next season (which we've already requested from the library but we're number 70 something in the list of patrons who want it!) to find out what happened.  So....I watched the last episode without him and it actually cleared up a couple of things left hanging earlier in this season and the only real "cliff hanger" is just a continuation of one we've already been waiting to see how it would resolve itself.  With that done he agreed to watch the last episode with me.

Although I'm a big fan of this series, I think I've enjoyed this season the most so far.  Jane and Maura spend the first episode dealing with the aftermath of last season's final episode and figuring out how to heal their friendship. It felt like this season had a little more humor in it -- quite the feat for a show based on a homicide squad.  This season involves all the members of Jane's family at some point with some secrets coming out.  Jane's mother (after being asked for a divorce by her father) starts dating again.  We meet Frost's mother and her new partner and watch Frost obsess over an old case that has been brought to his attention again in the midst of a case he and Jane are working on.  Maura is trying to figure out what role her biological mother might have in her life -- if any.  I loved the intermingling of the murder investigations with their personal lives.  My spouse did have one observation - What is it that Jane's cop brother Frankie does?  He's always around to help out if they need him in homicide or to take a family member home or ???  How come he has so much flexibility?  If you know the answer, clue us in, please!  pazt

"Seconds Away" - A Mickey Bolitar Novel

"Seconds Away" - a Mickey Bolitary Novel - is the second in this series by Harlan Coben.  It has been some time since I read the first book, "Shelter" but Coban spent the first part of this book recapping enough of what happened in the first book to refresh my memory and bring me up to speed.  Although these books are aimed at a teen audience, I enjoy them and plan to continue to read this series.  There is another series about Mickey's Uncle Myron that is also on my "to read" list.

Mickey Bolitar is an only child and like his uncle Myron he loves basketball.  When Mickey reaches the time for him to start high school, his world traveling parents decide it is time to settle in one place and give him the opportunity to experience being on a basketball team and having a group of friends that will be stable.  They move back to his father's home town but then Mickey's father is killed in an accident and his mother is so devastated that she ends up using drugs.  While she is in rehab, Mickey is living with his Uncle Myron but it's not an easy relationship.

Mickey has made some close friends since starting high school but he really doesn't know them well.  There is Ema who will not allow him to know anything about her home life -- even where she lives.  There is Rachel who comes from a very wealthy family and lives in a home that is gated.  Last but not least, there is "Spoon" (a nickname Mickey gave him) who is the janitor's son.  Together they form a formidable team when they come up against some very bad guys in "Shelter." 

Mickey is also learning some family secrets about the work that had his parents traveling the world and in "Seconds Away" he begins to discover another side of his Uncle Myron.  In the first book he meets "Bat Lady" - a woman who lives in what the locals seem to think is a haunted house but Mickey's interactions with her reveal more secrets as well as wisdom she imparts to him.

In this book, Rachel's mother has been killed and Rachel herself has suffered a slight gunshot wound at the same time.  Mickey and his friends are out to discover what happened but it appears they have put all their lives in danger again and Uncle Myron and the detective father of one of Mickey's basketball pickup game friends come to the rescue. 

Throughout the book Mickey is beginning to doubt that his father is really dead and at the end he has convinced his Uncle Myron to have the grave opened so he can see if it really is his father who is buried there.  He's beginning to be less antagonistic towards his Uncle Myron and I suspect the next book in the series, "Found," will be about an adventure with Uncle Myron.  Unfortunately, "Found" is not due to be released until 9/9/2014.  pazt

Reaching Out

As I was meditating this morning, a thought came to me:  We each live in our own insulated world.  No matter how much or how little we may have, we view the world from where we are.  It is only by being willing to look outside that world to see the pain or suffering of those less fortunate than we are (and no matter where I am in life there will always be someone with less -- less material goods, less love, less health, etc) that we will learn compassion.  It is only by stepping outside that insulated world that we can reach out in love, compassion, and generosity.  By helping someone else, I not only give to them but I also feed my soul and bring joy into my life as well as feel gratitude for what I have and for what I can share.  Namaste

"Winter Prey"

"Winter Prey" is John Sandford's fifth mystery in his Lucas Davenport series.  Sandford agrees with his readers that this might be one of the better books in this series.  It certainly kept me guessing till the end!

Davenport has been staying away from his new state of the art office hiding out at his cabin up north and it's one of the coldest winters in Wisconsin history.  When a couple and their daughter are brutally murdered and their home burned to the ground, Sheriff Shelly Carr asks for Davenport's assistance.  In fact, he deputizes him to make it official. 

These deaths are just the tip of the iceberg and there is more than murder involved.  Davenport is part of the Sheriff's local team which includes Dr. Weather Karkinnen, a local surgeon, who, as a matter of regular rotation, acts as coroner on this case.  When she becomes a target, Davenport moves into her guest bedroom at night to act as a bodyguard and has someone routinely assigned to be with her at all times for protection.

Neither Davenport nor Weather have been in a relationship for some time and there is a mutual attraction that they eventually act on.  However, solving the murders and preventing additional ones takes precedence.
How many more "innocents" will die before they find their murderer?  pazt

"Judgment and Wrath"

"Judgment and Wrath" is the second book by Matt Hilton in the Joe Hunter series.  Joe has settled into what he expects to be a quiet life working in his friend Rink's private detective agency in Florida.  However, when he is hired to find a man's daughter (Marianne) and get her away from her millionaire boyfriend, Bradley Jorgenson, he may not have been given all the facts pertinent to the situation.

In the meantime there is a contract killer out there by the name of Dantalion who may complicate Joe's job.  As Joe is watching Marianne and her boyfriend, he recognizes someone whose intentions may not be the best for Marianne and Bradley.  When he intervenes, he almost gets himself killed and life gets a lot more complicated for Marianne, Bradley, Joe, and Rink and a lot of people end up dead.  Will he be able to complete his job without getting himself or anyone else killed?  This is another action packed, fast-paced novel from beginning to end and it took me until the end to find out why some "innocents" also ended up dead.  I'm already looking forward to the next Joe Hunter book in the series!  pazt 

"The Librarian - Curse of the Judas Chalice"

The third (and unfortunately what I understand is the last) Librarian movie, "The Librarian Curse of the Judas Chalice" again stars Noah Wyle as the Librarian, Flynn.  His beautiful costar in this movie is Simone, played by Stana Katic who also stars as Detective Kate Beckett in the "Castle" TV series.  Jane Curtin and Bob Newhart again play pivotal roles as Flynn's supporting staff (or is it his employers?) at the Library.

Flynn is having a hard time maintaining any kind of romance past about 6 months due to his duties as a Librarian (which he can't explain to his family or his girlfriends).  When his latest girlfriend storms out because he's taken her to London but isn't spending any time with her, Flynn has a meltdown and gets sent on a vacation.  His vacation turns into moping at home in his apartment till he's urged to get out and do something.  A dream leads him to New Orleans and a new romance and an adventure with Simone as his partner this time.  However, Simone has her own secrets that could either help or destroy their mission.

A gang of Russians have decided to bring back Dracula so they can rule the world although it doesn't appear they've actually thought through the consequences of that action!  If they can find the Judas Chalice, they can get what they're seeking so Flynn and Simone are out to find the Chalice first and stop them. 

I'm sad that there aren't any more Librarian movies in the making because they're full of action and comedy.  pazt

"Nobody Lives Forever"

"Nobody Lives Forever" is Edna Buchanan's first novel and third book.  She was a crime reporter for the Miami Herald and has used her career covering violent deaths to write a very interesting mystery.  From the beginning we pretty much know who the killer is so the mystery is how three close-knit detectives working as a team are going to uncover this killer.

Homicide Detective Rich Barrish has two partners - Jim Ransom is a veteran cop who is embittered by his wife divorcing him before he can retire and run off into the sunset with her.  He thought he had time to win her back until his married daughter informs him his ex-wife has remarried.

Their junior partner is Patrol Office Mary Ellen "Dusty" Dustin who was previously Rick's lover until he fell for Laura, a young woman he stopped for speeding who then captured his heart, his home, and his bed.  This is not Dusty's first ill-fated romance but she's managed to keep her past life a mystery from her partners.

When the novel begins, Rick has asked Rob Thorne, a young high school neighbor of his (who wants to be a cop), to keep an eye on Laura while Rick works his usual night shift.  Laura is fearful of what might happen when she's alone at night.  When Rob sees what he believes is a prowler outside Rick's house, he goes to investigate and is shot to death.  This is the first of a series of murders all committed with the same gun.

When the investigation ends with a satisfactory arrest, it is not without its cost in lives and friendships.  I'm hooked -- I'm looking for another Edna Buchanan book!  pazt

"The Empress File"

"The Empress File" is John Sandford's second book in his Kidd series featuring an artist known only by his last name, Kidd, and a thief named LuEllen.  Kidd and LuEllen met when he observed her burglarizing one of his neighbor's apartments and they have an on-again, off-again working relationship when the need for their unique talents are called for.  They also have an on-again, off-again personal relationship complicated by other relationships or their personal needs for solitude.

Kidd also has a friend, Bobby, who he's never met face-to-face but they know each other through the computer.  In addition to his painting, Kidd has some serious computer skills and Bobby has unique computer abilities that Kidd is willing to pay for when they are needed.

When Kidd is contacted by Bobby requesting help in the town of Longstreet (located along the Mississippi River), Kidd is reluctant but Bobby is persuasive.  A very young black kid with computer talents that Bobby was helping him develop has been murdered by the local police when he is mistaken for someone who snatched an elderly woman's purse.  The corrupt local political machine has covered up the murder.  Bobby doesn't want them to revenge the murder but he asks that they help a local black woman and her team take down the political machine so they can replace it with a more racially balanced administration to rid the city of its corruption.

Kidd knows there are dangers involved but he's also in need of money to pay off the IRS because he unwisely spent a lot of the cash he got in a previous operation without giving them their share.  He contacts LuEllen and convinces her to work with him on this caper.  Unfortunately, there was some killing involved in their first job -- not that they wanted to do it but it became the only way to protect their own lives.  The killing didn't set well with LuEllen but she reluctantly agrees to help him.

Along the way they meet some nice and some not so nice people and figure out a way to make some money for themselves while helping Bobby's friends accomplish their goals.  However, they put themselves at risk again  -- physically when some really mean people go after them -- and personally when it appears Kidd has fallen in love with LuEllen and she's not sure what to do with that.  This is another Sandford book that it's hard to put down once you start it so be prepared!  pazt  

"Before I Fall"

It is hard to believe that "Before I Fall" is Lauren Oliver's first novel -- I hope it is the first of many.  I'm not sure where the idea for this story came from but it is certainly intriguing.

This book focuses on the life of Samantha (Sam) Kingston who is part of the "in-crowd" at her high school and, as a senior, she's living the life and dating a very popular boy and tonight she has plans to lose her virginity.  Those plans are delayed by a party one of her childhood friends is giving while his parents are out of town and she, her friends, and her boyfriend will all be there.  What Sam doesn't expect is that she'll be killed in a car accident leaving the party but even more unexpected will be waking up to her alarm clock going off and reliving that same day over again for seven days -- a version of the movie, "Groundhog Day!"

This time Sam already knows what is going to happen and she has the opportunity to do it all over again or make some changes along the way -- changes that impact other people and other lives.  In the beginning Sam is focused on her life and her popularity but she begins to see how Elody, Ally, and she blindly follow their friend Lindsay without question.  She learns how even one small action on their part can have a huge reaction in someone else's life and how bullying/tormenting a classmate can have consequences beyond what any of them might have predicted.

Sam also learns how much she loves her parents and her eight-year-old sister, Izzy, and she gets a chance to make a lot of things right in those 7 "re-lived" days.  Does she really die or is this all a dream?  You'll have to read the book yourself to discover your own answers to those questions.  pazt

"Rizzoli & Isles" - Season 2

My hubby and I just finished watching the second season of "Rizzoli & Isles" ---- again!  We didn't realize until we started watching it that we'd already seen it but this time we're ready for the season finale cliff hanger because we've already picked up the third season of "Rizzoli & Isles" from our library!  I'm so glad because I couldn't wait months again to see what happens next!

Detective Jane Rizzoli and forensic pathologist Dr. Maura Isles are based on characters from best-selling novelist Tess Gerritsen's series.  Isles and Rizzoli are close friends at home and at work -- although they don't always see eye to eye at work.  Jane is often frustrated by Maura's refusal to hazard a guess about something like cause of death because Maura, after all, is a forensic "detective" who deals in facts not guesses.

Jane is experiencing a lot of change in her personal life as her brother Tommy comes home from prison.  Her cop brother, Frankie, wants to move up to Detective so he keeps showing up to help with her murder cases -- with the encouragement of her fellow detectives.  Jane's parents are experiencing marital difficulties so her mother is living in Maura's guest cottage and working in the precinct deli.  As if that weren't enough, two romantic interests from her past show up almost simultaneously wanting to take up where they left off.

Maura has her own family issues -- an adopted mom, Constance, who rarely has time for her as her wealthy parents are always jetsetting off alone or together around the world.  When she discovers her biological father is Paddy Doyle, a Boston mob boss, she begins to be curious about who her biological mom is and experiences mixed feelings about Paddy himself when he pops up in her life periodically.  What better guy to have in your corner, though, when you need a little protection?

The season finale leaves us wondering if Jane and Maura's friendship can survive working together and the choices they both must make as a result of their jobs and their personal lives.  Love this series!  pazt

"Silent Prey"

In John Sandford's, "Silent Prey," which is the 4th book in the Prey series starring Lucas Davenport, Davenport has left the police force and is still making a lot of money working on his video games but they've taken a new direction -- computer simulations of police tactical problems.  His personal life is not so great since his girlfriend left with their daughter and he's a bit at loose ends.

However, his biggest case -- catching the murderer Dr. Michael Bekker (a psychotic pathologist) -- is coming back to haunt him as Bekker manages to escape jail and start killing people in New York.  Some people think Davenport should have killed Bekker when he was a Lt. with the police department -- instead of capturing him.

Davenport's life is about to get a little more complicated with the arrival of a New York policewoman, Lily, he'd worked a case with before and gotten emotionally/sexually involved with.  Lily's boss wants Davenport to come to New York to provide insight into Bekker and handle the media ostensibly but he has another agenda, too.  Someone is killing bad guys in New York and that might not upset the local police force but, whoever it is, has taken to killing a few cops now, too.  Lily's boss wants Davenport to go undercover to see if he can find out who is behind the killings because he suspects it's someone internally.

The Bekker case has Davenport paired with Barb Fell who is working the case and has street contacts that might prove useful.  Since Lily currently has a love in her life -- a policeman recovering from a heart attack, Barb seems a logical choice for a current romantic entanglement except that has its own complications.

As Davenport works both cases, some clues begin to surface pointing out why Bekker might be so successful in finding victims in New York.  As the hunt for Bekker seems to be coming to a successful conclusion, so does Davenport's theories about the police involvement in the street killings.  As usual, Sandford is a master at weaving a complex tale that holds the reader's interest and makes it difficult to put the book down until its conclusion.  Off to look for the next book in the Davenport Prey series!  pazt

"Ffolkes"

"Ffolkes" is a fast paced edge of your seat thriller starring Roger Moore, James Mason, and Anthony Perkins.   A columnist for the Mukilteo Beacon mentioned he'd watched it again recently and I thought it sounded good -- forgetting that I had actually seen it years ago.  When I brought it home from the library, my husband said, "Why did you get that movie?"  I explained that the local columnist had recommended it so I'd decided to check it out.  My hubby said he'd recently watched it a couple of times on Roku.  When he reminded me of the plot, I realized I'd seen it, too, but we both agreed it was worth watching again.

Roger Moore plays the part of Rufus Excalibur Ffolkes who has a team of underwater experts training at his castle all the time -- preparing for any emergency that might require this team's special skills.  They're very handy at martial arts, too. 

When a team of madmen headed by Lou Kramer (and portrayed by Anthony Perkins) decide to hijack a supply ship and a drilling platform in the North Seas and hold crews and equipment hostage until the British government plays them a ransom, Ffolkes and his team are called in. 

Even having seen this movie before, I was still on the edge of my seat so, if you like thrillers (with a touch of comedy), you'll enjoy this one.  Roger Moore is great as an eccentric team leader and Anthony Perkins does what he was known for doing best -- playing the bad guy!  I wonder what he was really like?!  pazt

"The Burry Man's Day"

"The Burry Man's Day" is Catriona McPherson's second Dandy Gilver murder mystery.  As in her first mystery, I had a difficult time getting into the book but one half to three quarters way into the novel, I began to "get" it as well as some clues about who might be the murderer so then I was hooked.

In this instance Dandy and her friend Daisy have been invited to South Queensferry to visit their school chum, Frederica (or Freddie).  Freddie and her new husband, Cad, have inherited an estate of which they are now Lord and Lady.  This visit coincides with the annual Ferry Fair where one of Cad's employees will act as "The Burry Man." 

The Burry Man spends a day walking around encased in a costume of burdock heads with a couple of guides who help him stop at every bar and drink his way through town but as to why I'm not quite sure.  As it turns out, the Burry Man doesn't want to participate this year and Dandy and her friends are asked to encourage him to maintain the tradition.  However, when he relents then ends up dead at the end of the day, Cad is feeling remorseful and asks Dandy to investigate so she invites her friend, Alec, to assist her.  Although the coroner is sure he died of acute alcohol poisoning, not everything adds up as far as Dandy, Alec and Cad are concerned.  As it turns out, they are right and a killer must be found!  pazt

P.S.  There really is a Ferry Fair annual in South Queensferry complete with a Burry Man.!

"Nickled and Dimed to Death"

Denise Swanson's "Nickled and Dimed to Death" is the second book in her Devereaux Dime Store Mystery series.  Dev is settled in her life back in her home town of Shadow Bend, MO, running the shop she purchased there and watching over her grandmother who has memory problems.  Her new boyfriend, Deputy U. S. Marshal Jake Del Vecchio, has been cleared to return to duty and breaks a date with her at the last minute when he's called back to duty in St. Louis.  This gives her high school sweetheart/ex-beau, Dr. Noah Underwood, a chance to try to win her back.  She accepts his invitation to attend an event with him because he has promised an introduction to a man who can greatly increase her gift basket business. 

The introduction goes well and that part of the evening is a success but, when she gets a frantic call from her good friend, Boone (an attorney), saying he's been arrested for the murder of his client, Elise Whitmore, she calls on her other good friend, Poppy, to pick her up and take her to the police station.  Thus begins the mystery and the need for Dev and Poppy to find out who really killed Elise to clear Boone's name.  Although there is animosity between Noah and Boone, Noah offers to help in the investigation and Boone's attorney friend, Tryg Price, flies in from Chicago and settles in for the duration to represent Boone and lead the investigation.

Despite the seriousness of their task to solve a murder, a romance begins to develop between Tryg and Poppy and Noah makes a move on Dev -- hoping to win her back while Jake is out of town.  Noah does prove to be invaluable in getting information from the locals and the investigation has a few twists on the way to solving the murder.  pazt

"The Librarian" DVD's

Noah Wyle stars in "The Librarian" trilogy series.  My spouse and I have watched the first two "Librarian" DVD's:  "Quest for the Spear" and "Return to King Solomon's Mines."  They are fun adventure movies and we've requested the third one from the library.

Noah Wyle is the Librarian Flynn Carson and in "Quest for the Spear" he has been kicked out of college after accumulating multiple degrees.  His professor believes he needs to stop avoiding life and get out there into it.  His widowed mother portrayed by Olympia Dukakis also thinks it time he found a nice girl and settled down to provide her with some grandchildren.

Reluctantly, Flynn applies for a position as a librarian after finding an envelope his mother has slipped into his room.  The candidates appear to be endless and unsuitable but, when Flynn is interviewed, he is hired.  His boss, Judson, at the library is played by Bob Newhart and Jane Curtain as Charlene is the library administrator.  Flynn soon discovers that what he is there to do is to protect the world's greatest treasures which are safely secured and guarded in a secret part of the library.  When a rare artifact is discovered that might threaten the fate of the world, he's sent off to recover it and bring it to safekeeping in the library.

Does he have any training for this?  No!  In the first episode Judson sends him off telling him to trust no one but he soon discovers (when he finds himself threatened) that No one (Noone) is a beautfiul protector with amazing martial art and other skills.  Noone is played by Sonya Walger.  The risk is great and Flynn's success leads to self confidence for him as well as a love life -- which pleases and surprises his mother!

In the second movie, "Return to King Solomon's Mines," Noone is no where in sight but Flynn is unintentionally paired with a beautiful archaeologist, Emily Davenport, played by Gabrielle Anwar (of  the "Burn Notice" series).  After he makes a discovery at her dig, she is not going to let him out of her sight leading them both on an adventure to again save the world while endangering both their lives.....and, there's a little romance thrown in, too.

I think what I enjoy about these "adventure" movies is the subtle humor that is also inserted and why wouldn't there be humor with Bob Newhart and Jane Curtain involved in the making of these films?
Great at home movie night movies!  pazt

"Storm Front"

John Sandford's, "Storm Front," is the next to the last novel currently in his Virgil Flowers series.  So far I love all of Sandford's series but I particularly enjoyed this Flowers' novel. 

Virgil's boss, Lucas Davenport, calls him in to work on a case involving a local professor from his area who has been accused by the Israelis of stealing a precious artifact from a dig he was working on.  The professor has a wife with Alzheimer's and he's dying of cancer and the theft seems totally out of character for him and his long career of assisting with digs.

An Israeli investigator has been sent to retrieve the relic and Flowers has been assigned to assist her but things get tricky when the original woman who shows up keeps being accused (by everyone they question) of being part of the Mossad.  As it turns out, the original investigator has been "detained" prior to getting to the U.S. and this woman has taken her place.  As soon as the real investigator arrives, the imposter fades  into the background but doesn't totally disappear.

Lots of individuals are showing an interest in the artifact that it appears the professor is preparing to sell.  His son is out of the area but Flowers contacts the professor's daughter to see if she can help him find her father.
There is also a woman, "Ma" Nobles, that Flowers has been investigating for a possible counterfeit lumber selling ring.  Even "Ma" gets involved in the investigation when it turns out the professor did her family a big favor when she was a girl that changed the course of her life so she feels she owes him.  Despite the name, "Ma," "Ma" is young and well developed and there may be more than an investigation into her criminal activities on Virgil's part that interests him.

As usual, there are some twists and turns in this Sandford novel that kept me guessing to the end and I was unable to put it down (and it's 376 pages in hardback!) until I'd finished it.  pazt

"The Light Between Oceans"

"The Light Between Oceans" is M. L. Stedman's first novel and I hope it won't be her last.  She was born and raised in Western Australia and her novel is set in Australia although she now lives in London.

Stedman weaves a complex tale full of emotion and our hero, Tom Sherbourne, is the pivotal figure.  He has spent four long years on the Western Front and comes home haunted with what he's seen in the war and  by the men who he knew who died.  It's not something he wants to talk about.

Post war finds him rescuing one woman, marrying another and becoming a lighthouse keeper -- a lonely and remote job but made bearable when he married Isabel.  Isabel is the perfect mate for him but several miscarriages leave her grieving over her inability to bear a living child.  When a boat washes up on shore with a dead man and a live baby in it, Isabel wants to keep the child and is convinced the child's mother must be dead, too.  Having recently given birth to a stillborn child, she convinces Tom (against his better judgement) not to log the man's death and the appearance of the child.  They begin to raise the child, Lucy, as their own.

However, when Tom discovers the true circumstances behind the child's parentage, he tries to convince Isabel that they must tell the truth but, by then, she is too firmly attached to let Lucy go.  As a result, Tom is faced with a wrenching decision and an ultimate decision that hurts his daughter, his wife, and another woman as well as himself.  pazt

"The Fool's Run"

"The Fool's Run" is a new series by John Sandford starring Kidd.  Kidd is an artist and he'd prefer to be left alone to do his art but it doesn't quite pay the rent so he takes on some side jobs utilizing other special skills he has with computers.  His "consulting" gigs help keep him in an apartment and paint.  When Kidd is approached by Maggie, who works for a wealthy business owner in Chicago, she asks him to take on a job for her boss.  Kidd's reluctant but the money is too good to pass up -- in fact, it could set him up for life.

The job calls for some assistance, though, so he recruits a newspaper friend, Dace, as well as LuEllen, a thief he happened upon one night when she was stealing from one of his neighbors.  All seems to be going well until the job is almost over then Dace is shot in cold blood and Kidd and LuEllen are running for their lives.  The question is, who is after them?  Is it a case of mistaken identity or are they the actual targets?  They go into hiding to try to work out what is going on then come up with a plan to get even and get safe.  Another great novel by Sandford....pazt

"In Harm's Way"

"In Harm's Way" is Ridley Pearson's 4th Walt Fleming novel.  Sun Valley sheriff Fleming has his hands full running the police department and trying to make a home life for his twin daughters who divide their time between his home and where his ex-wife lives with one of his deputies.  Although Fleming is still coping with the aftermath of his divorce, he has feelings for Fiona Kenshaw, a local photographer who assists in taking crime scene pictures for his department.  As he acts on those feelings (which are reciprocated), both their lives are unexpectedly churned upside down when an out-of-town sport celebrity (who has just been released from prison) is killed and Fleming must investigate.

This case may have ties to a homicide in Seattle which brings Lou Boldt, a legendary homicide sergeant from Seattle, to the area.  Fleming and Boldt develop a good working rapport and continue to compare notes when Boldt returns to Seattle -- trying to connect the two cases and solve both of them.

In the meantime, Fleming is concerned about Fiona's change of behaviour and the fact that a young woman (former victim of sexual assault) who Fiona has taken under her wing, seems to be missing from around the time of the murder.  For the first time in his career, he finds himself wanting to ignore some of the evidence in the case because it might point the finger at one of them being involved.

As usual, Pearson weaves a complex tale with an unexpected turn near the end that helps both he and Boldt solve their cases.  I wouldn't miss one of Pearson's books and hope he has another Walt Fleming sequel in the works.  pazt

"Shock Wave"

John Sandford's "Shock Wave" is the 5th book, I believe, in the Virgil Flowers series and it's another fast read despite its 388 pages.  The stage is set when PyeMart decides it wants to move into the small Minnesota river town of Butternut Falls but there are a lot of factions opposed to the idea who are ready to do what they can to stop the construction.

Step one occurs when someone places a bomb in the corporate boardroom of Pye Pinnacle in Michigan.  Instead of killing Willard Pye, though, it goes off before a board meeting starts and kills his executive assistant and seriously injures a food service worker.

Three weeks later a bomb goes off at the PyeMart construction site just outside Butternut Falls and kills a construction superintendent and injures the civil engineer with him.  So, of course, Lucas Davenport calls Virgil Flowers and sends him to Butternut Falls to find the bomber before more people are killed.

Unfortunately, he's not able to stop some additional bombings and deaths but he and his persistent crew are on the trail of suspects and narrowing the field.  In the meantime, they and Flowers are at risk, too.

And....just to make things interesting, it appears the local council were bribed to change the zoning laws to allow PyeMart to build in a location that wasn't meant to be built on.  Davenport would find it a plus if Flowers could manage to take down those who were bribed while finding the bomber.

On a personal note, Virgil's current love, Lee Coakley, is in L.A. working as a consultant on a made-for-TV movie based on one of her cases.  Virgil feels things beginning to cool between them when they talk by phone but isn't quite ready to let go yet even though he's feeling some attraction towards Pye's assistant.

Flowers is juggling a lot right now -- is he up to it?   If previous Flowers' novels are any indication, he is!  I found this another great Sandford read.  pazt

"True Spies"

"True Spies" is Shana Galen's second in a series of English uppercrust spy couples.  The first one was "Lord and Lady Spy."  In "True Spies" Lady Elinor is getting bored and looking for a little excitement in her life.  Her husband, Baron Winslow Keating (known as Winn to her) has spent most of their married life managing his estates all over the country.  His long absences weren't so hard to bear when her daughters were younger and needed more of her attention.  The Lady is quite good at managing the household and arranging parties as well as helping others with their parties.  When an acquaintance hints he's a spy and needs her help, she is ready for a little adventure.

Unknown to Elinor, though, her husband is a spy and this acquaintance is just an imposter trying to bed her.  When Winn shows her he's an imposter and, to his regret, also gets her caught up in a very dangerous mission he's involved in, Elinor gets her excitement.  For safety, their daughters are sent off to spend time with Winn's mother and Winn and Elinor embark on an adventure that ends with her becoming a real spy and winning the love of her husband.

It's a fun, light read with some sex thrown in for those looking for some romance in their mystery spy thrillers!  pazt

"Kiss Me Deadly"

My spouse and I checked out the DVD, "Kiss Me Deadly," from the library.  It's described as a 1955 cold war paranoia noir film directed by Robert Aldrich and is full of action from start to finish.  Ralph Meeker portrays convertible driving Mike Hammer who picks up a woman he finds running along a lonely road one dark night (played by Cloris Leachman).  She's very fearful and ends up dead which sends Hammer down some terrifying paths looking for answers.  She may have had connections to the mob and everywhere he turns he seems to find out something ever more frightening and/or puts himself in more danger.

Since it is a 50's film, it doesn't particularly hold up to the filmography of today but if you're looking for a feeling of what it was like in the 50's when everyone was afraid of being bombed and were building bomb shelters in their backyards, this might give you an idea of why.  pazt

"Hung Out To Die"

"Hung Out To Die" is, to my knowledge, the first novel I've read by Sharon Short and it's part of the "stain busting" mystery series.  As I was reading it,  there were allusions to our heroine, Josie Toadfern, solving other mysteries, which gave me the first clue that I might have missed a few earlier novels in a series.

Josie is an orphan who owns the local laundromat -- Her parents didn't die -- They just abandoned her and left her to be raised by other family members.  Although her paternal grandmother, has forbidden the family to have anything to do with her, her cousin Sally has ignored that edict and been a good friend of Josie's.

Thanksgiving is near and Josie's boyfriend, Owen, has gone off to visit his son which also means he'll be seeing his ex-wife and leaving Josie alone over this holiday.  Sally insists that Mamaw Toadfern, her paternal grandmother, wants Josie at their family Thanksgiving and Sally strongarms Josie into going.

As it turns out, Josie's parents arrive for dinner also as well as the rest of the family including her father's twin brother, Uncle Fenwick.  An argument ensues between the brothers so when Uncle Fenwick is later discovered dead, Josie's father is the prime suspect and her mother begs Josie to find out who the real killer is.  It's not an easy task and along the way Josie discovers other crimes -- some recent and some in the past -- and everyone seems to be impacted by the unveiling of this family's history.

It's a fun, light read -- not requiring a lot of thought -- but I have to admit it kept me guessing until the end -- Isn't that what a good mystery is supposed to do?  pazt

"A Dangerous Dance"

"A Dangerous Dance" is, I believe, one of Pauline Baird Jones' stand alone novels.  When Dorothy Morgana Merlinn's father, Magus (also known as the Wizard), was assassinated in front of her ten years ago while he was beginning his run for Louisiana Governor, she had just recently been reunited with him.  He and her mother divorced before she was born and she was raised by her mother without any financial assistance from her father so their life was hard as her mother worked as a waitress to support them.  When her mother died of cancer, Magus invited Dorothy to live with him at his estates, Oz.

After Magus' death, Dorothy spent ten years learning to run his empire with his bodyguard, Titus, always by her side to offer his protection.  Magus left detailed dossiers on everyone and Dorothy had recently paid a visit to prison to interview Vance, the man who had killed Magus, trying to learn who had hired him.  She offered him a million dollars to tell her the name (or names) behind her father's assassination.  That may not have been wise because Vance ended up dead shortly afterwards and the offer may have also put Dorothy's life in danger.

A new race for Governor is beginning and Dorothy decides to back Remy Mistral - a talk-radio host who is a political outsider but has always fought for reform.  He was present at the rally where her father was shot.  Together they plot a way to flush out the hired killer or killers by Dorothy backing him for Governor and also announcing their engagement.  It begins as an engagement in name only but a mutual attraction may take it beyond that.  In the meantime, though, the plan puts their lives at risk.

In addition, Dorothy's Aunt Kate, her mother's sister that Dorothy was unaware of, shows up on the scene and is able to share stories about Dorothy's parents' relationship that Dorothy's mother had shared with her.  It seems she has a lot more info, though. than one might expect from an Aunt.

In the meantime, people are dying around Kate -- some of them suspects and some of them individuals who might be able to give Dorothy and Remy clues about the killers behind her father's assassination.  As the plot thickens, so do the risks to Dorothy and Remy and more secrets about Dorothy's family are uncovered.

Although this was a light read, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the first book I read by Jones which was "The Spy Who Kissed Me" (or also known as "Pig in a Park") which was released in 2000.  pazt

"Bad Blood"

"Bad Blood" is the 4th novel in John Sandford's Virgil Flowers series.  Flowers is an investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (or BCA) and in this newest novel he has been specifically requested by Sheriff Lee Coakley of Warren County.  Lee is a newly elected Sheriff with two accidental deaths on her hands -- or were they?

The first death occurred at a grain elevator where Jacob Flood was dumping a load of soybeans and apparently slipped, fell, and died.  What initially looked like an accident is found to be murder by the coroner and the only suspect is a teenage boy, Bob Tripp, a local high school jock who should have been away playing freshman college football but an injury has delayed his start for a year so he's been working at the elevator and this day he was working alone.

While Tripp is in jail, he commits suicide by hanging himself but only one deputy, Crocker, was on duty at the time and that deputy was a friend and fellow church-goer of Jacob Flood.  Since Lee won a recent election over Crocker, she believes it would be best to bring in an outside investigator to be sure it was a suicide.

Flowers' boss, Lucas Davenport, agrees to the assignment so the next step is for Coakley and Flowers to interview Crocker at his home.  When they arrive at his rural home, he has apparently committed suicide by shooting himself but again there are inconsistencies. 

As they continue their investigation, they uncover the death of a teenage girl the year before across the state line in Iowa who was a member of the same church as Flood and Crocker.  She was found naked in a cemetary and had recently had sex with several men.  It turns out she was also a friend of Tripp's who she met when she worked at a local fast food place.

The investigation is slightly hampered by the secrecy of the church itself and the fact that all the children are homeschooled.  They keep pretty much to themselves and those who are not part of their church know very little about this group of farmers whose families emigrated to the area from Germany several generations ago.

Flowers begins to suspect there is underage sexual activity within the church -- young girls with much older men -- and uncovering this fact makes him wonder if the church and its sexual activity is at the crux of these deaths.  He needs to find a way to unmask the church activities and protect the children if they are indeed being abused.

The story uncovers just like a methodical investigation and Flowers and Coakley's instincts work well together.  Experienced officers working with them also offer insights that aid the investigation to lead it to a successful but bloody conclusion.  Along the way Flowers and Coakley develop a friendship and romantic relationship -- but not a relationship they expect to last -- just one of convenience at the time.  Both are divorced and Coakley has three sons at home so she's not looking for anything permanent but seeking confirmation that she is an attractive, desirable woman outside her duties as a sheriff.

I love Sandford's books and look forward to reading the next Virgil Flowers mystery.  pazt