"The Chill of Night"

"The Chill of Night" by James Hayman is his second suspense novel in the Detective Michael McCabe series.  I picked this hardback book up at the library and after reading it, I immediately wanted to read the first one but can only find it on Kindle or Amazon so I need to order it!

Hayman now has five books in this series -- the fifth one coming out this year.

"The Chill of Night" is about the murder of a young attorney who has overcome a dark past to work her way up hoping to become a partner in her law firm.  When her murdered body is discovered, McCabe is part of the investigative team.  A witness is discovered but, unfortunately, this witness is mentally ill and anything she is able to tell the police is suspect and/or might not hold up in court.

Hayman weaves a tale of deception that kept me reading into the night with a surprising conclusion!
pazt

"The Spirit Keeper"

"The Spirit Keeper" is the first novel by K. B. Laugheed and is the story of Katie O'Toole, the 13th child of Irish immigrants living in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.  Katie has had a difficult life and is thinking of leaving her family and returning to Philadelphia where her family lived before taking up farming.

Her life changes, though, when savages show up slaughtering or enslaving her family.  When she is offered the opportunity to travel willingly with two male savages to the western part of the country, Katie sees it as an opportunity for a new life.  Little does she know how difficult the travel will be and that she'll encounter adventures she never could have dreamed of as well as discovering her own strengths.  What Katie finds in addition to adventure is a new way of life that leads to loss but also to love.  

I certainly hope Laugheed will write other novels because I look forward to reading more of her work.  pazt

"Another Thin Man"

Another Thin Man" is the third (I think!) movie in the Thin Man movie series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.  Nick and Nora have added a baby boy to their family and traveling with a baby has its complications (as well as lots of luggage) and the need for a nanny.

When Nick, Nora, and Nick Jr. (and Asta, of course) arrive in New York, Nick discovers one of his old "pals" trying to case their room.  However, when he sees Nick, meets Nora and Nick Jr., he gives up that idea for a new one -- throwing a first birthday party for Nick Jr.  He'll invite all his pals and they'll bring their babies, too!

But....first, Nora receives a call from her money manager and he needs to see the Charles family at his estate in upper New York right away!  Although they don't want to leave New York, he insists they come and murder and mayhem follow which, of course, Nick (and Nora) must sort out and solve.  This is another fun movie!/pat

"Horatio's Drive" - America's First Road Trip

"Horatio's Drive" is a film directed by Ken Burns for PBS and tells the story of the first successful road trip across America from San Francisco to New York in 1903.  Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson decided on a whim (and as the result of a $50 bet) to drive a car across country.  He hired a mechanic to make the trip with him at a time when there were no real roads for car travel.  This DVD is the story of their adventure -- many breakdowns and delays along the way -- and their success despite two cars sponsored by Packard and Oldsmobile who started the trip after them.  These drivers had better equipment and regular supplies enroute while Jackson paid for his journey and supplies himself.

It's a fascinating look at early road trips and the unreliability of early cars.  If it had been me, I would have given up after the first day probably but his letters home to his wife in Vermont are upbeat and always optimistic as well as full of love for his wife.  Adding personal appeal to the film is input from two of his granddaughters.

Dr. Jackson is a fascinating man in many other ways as he goes on to be a successful businessman in many fields and volunteers to serve as a doctor in World War II even though he's in his 40's at that time.  He returns home decorated and lives on into his 80's.

Although I don't remember where I first heard about this film, it was well worth watching (and listening to the voice of Tom Hanks as Horatio)!  pazt

"3rd Degree" - Women's Murder Club Novel

"3rd Degree" was written by James Patterson and Andrew Gross and is the third novel in the Women's Murder Club series starring Detective Lindsay Boxer.  This book is a #1 New York Times bestseller  as well as #1 in the Publisher's Weekly, Washington Post, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly and #2 in the Wall Street Journal.

It is a thriller so suspenseful that I felt dared to finish it in one sitting.  Unfortunately, it was a few days before Christmas when I started reading it so working, holiday baking, and gift wrapping took precedence but I did finish it before Christmas!

Lindsay and her friend, Jill, are out for a morning run but, when Lindsay is on her way home, there is an explosion and a townhouse is on fire.  After calling for help she plunges into the burning building and pulls out a young boy, discovers three dead bodies and later learns there is a missing baby.  When the fire marshall finds it is not accidental and more bodies turn up in mysterious circumstances, Lindsay and her team have their hands full.  The cavalry arrives to assist them, though, in the form of the Deputy Director of Homeland Security, Joe Molinari.

As Joe and Lindsay team up, she finds he listens to her input and takes her seriously and together they make a good team but there is also another attraction between them.  Can they solve the case without getting too cozy personally?  This is a great read!  pazt

"After The Thin Man"

"After The Thin Man" is, I think, the second movie William Powell and Myrna Loy made in the Thin Man series and it is just as fun as the first and Jimmy Stewart has been added to the cast.  Nick and Nora Charles have returned home to the West Coast just in time for New Year's Eve.  However, their plans to close the curtains and get some sleep (after their train ride home) are spoiled by the disappearance of Nora's cousin's husband.  When they're summoned to her Aunt's home (who has no love for Nick but insists he come, too), they're asked to find him.  They do but that's when things turn tricky and now they're solving murders instead of looking for a missing person.  pazt

"The Shadowed Sun"

"The Shadowed Sun" by N. K. Jemisin is the second book in her Dreamblood fantasy series.  I had forgotten how much I love Jemisin's writing as I've had this book checked out from the library for a while and always chose to read my mysteries first.  However, it was time to return the book and I decided I should read it first!

I think what stalls my starting one is the complex world Jemisin sets up with its own vocabulary and I feel lost until I really get into the book.  (The author does provide a glossary of terms to help navigate her fantasy world.)  Once I'm in it, though, I don't want to put it down.  This book has a very strong feminine heroine - the first woman ever allowed to join the dream godddess's priesthood.  Paired with an exiled prince they need to free the city of Gujaareh from the imperial rule of the Kisuati Protectorate as well as a deadly nightmare plague that is killing citizens in their sleep. If you enjoy fantasy, I'd recommend this series.  pazt