NanaCC (Colleen) tries not to fall off the page in 2021, part 2

Hi, I’m Colleen. Welcome to my 2021 thread. I kind of went MIA last year, but I’m trying to be active again. I only finished 25 books in 2020, but I’m well on my way to probably triple that this year.

I will post my current reading here. I don’t usually set goals for my reading, as I get distracted easily, and my goals fall apart. I consider my posts as comments about the books I’ve read, rather than reviews. If I try to write reviews, I wind up spending less time reading than I’d like.

I enjoy listening to audio books in addition to reading paper books. Last year I read 14 paper or kindle books, and 11 audio books. All 25 of the books were by women. I have been on a Sue Grafton kick, and have read through R is For Ricochet. Mysteries are my comfort reads, and I expect that to continue to be the majority of the books I’ll read.

Happy reading everyone. I look forward to your suggestions to add to my wishlist.

CURRENTLY READING:

The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George

Currently Listening:

The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid, narrated by Graham Roberts
Still Life by Sarah Winman, narrated by Sarah Winman

Books Read First Half 2021

Print/Kindle

1- Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith
2- The Searcher by Tana French
3- The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
4- N Is For Noose by Sue Grafton
5- Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
6- O is For Outlaw by Sue Grafton
7- In the Name of Truth by Viveca Sten
8- Flying Too High by Kerry Greenwood
9- Dead Man’s Folly by Agatha Christie
10- In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
11- P Is For Peril by Sue Grafton
12- Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
13- A Song For The Dark Times by Ian Rankin
14- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
15- Q is For Quarry by Sue Grafton
16- Deacon King Kong by James McBride
17- Agent Sonya: Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy by Ben Macintyre
18- The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
19- The Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey
20- In Bad Company by Viveca Sten
21- R is For Ricochet by Sue Grafton
22- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
23- The Magdalen Girls by V. S. Alexander
24- The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
25- Conviction by Denise Mina
26- Saints For All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan
27- The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
28- Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
29- Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel
30- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
31- S is For Silence by Sue Grafton
32- T is For Trespass by Sue Grafton

Audio

1- Hid From Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming, narrated by Suzanne Toren
2- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, narrated by Lesley Manville
3- The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Anne Dover
4- The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths, Narrated by: Andrew Wincott, Esther Wane, Sarah Feathers, Anjana Vasan
5- The Distant Echo by Val McDermid, narrated by Gerard Doyle
6- The Lewis Man by Peter May, narrated by Peter Forbes
7- Dead Water: A Shetland Mystery by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Kenny Blyth
8- The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan, narrated by Aoife McMahon
9- Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
10- A Darker Domain by Val McDermid, narrated by Eilidh Fraser
11- The Chessmen by Peter May, narrated by Peter Forbes
12- The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Jasmine Blackborow

Stats

Books Read Total = 44
Print/Kindle = 32; Audio = 12; Women authors = 33; New to me authors = 13

Books Read Second Half 2021

Print/Kindle

33- The Mirror & The Light by Hilary Mantel
34- Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd
35- The Leper of Saint Giles by Ellis Peters
36- Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayers
37- U is For Undertow by Sue Grafton
38- Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
39- This Body of Death by Elizabeth George
40- Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
41- Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
42- The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
43- Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George
44- Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers
45. The Dry by Jane Harper
46. Slow Horses by Mick Herron
47- Force of Nature by Jane Harper
48- Dead Lions by Mick Herron
49- The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
50- V is For Vengeance by Sue Grafton
51- Real Tigers by Mick Herron
52- Spook Street by Nick Herron
53- A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George

Audio

13- Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Julia Franklin
14- The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan, narrated by Aoife McMahon
15- The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell
16- The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny, narrated by Robert Bathurst
17- Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Nina Wadia
18- A Palm For Mrs Polifax by Dorothy Gilman, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
19- Thin Air by Ann Cleves, narrated by Kenny Blyth
20- A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Rory Kinnear
21- The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
22- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, narrated by Josephine Bailey

Stats

Books Read Total = 75
Print/Kindle = 53; Audio = 22; Women authors = 55; New to me authors = 17

Well, I guess I'm the first to arrive! I'm impressed with how many audio books you manage. Now that I'm not driving any distance on a regular basis, I just don't fit the listening form of reading into my life.

>4 laytonwoman3rd: Welcome, Linda. I like to listen to audiobooks while I’m doing a jigsaw puzzle or knitting. I’ve done 12 jigsaw puzzles this year so far. I only get the 1,000 piece ones, so that adds up to quite a bit of audiobook time.

Happy new thread, Colleen! 12 jigsaw puzzles! Impressive.

Hi. Checking out your new thread, and also noticing all those audiobooks.

>4 laytonwoman3rd: >5 NanaCC: haven’t tried puzzles, but walking works well for me with audiobooks.

>6 BLBera: I find the puzzles relaxing, Beth, and I can listen to audiobooks while I do them.

>7 dchaikin: Hi, Dan. Walking, knitting, cooking, and I used to do gardening. But now that I’ve moved to a condo, I don’t have any gardening to do. I miss that.

I'm glad you're here now! My Dad recently decided not to downsize and move to an apartment because he realized he'd miss the birds that come by. But it took awhile to decide that as a smaller place where the maintenance is done by someone else also has it's plusses. I hope, for you, the benefits far out-weigh the loss of garden.

I also listen while I do 1000 piece puzzles Colleen. Also when I go for a walk everyday. And even fifteen minute drives. Hahaha constantly I guess.

>9 RidgewayGirl: Moving from New Jersey to Massachusetts was a big change, and then with everything else that happened, and add a pandemic, Kay, missing the garden was probably the least troublesome thing. Being near my daughter has been great, and there are loads of things for me to get involved in once we are back to whatever normal becomes.

>10 brenzi: Haha! You sound like me, Bonnie. Even fifteen minutes in the car is worth listening to a book. Although I found with the last book I read, Conviction, I had to switch to kindle. The pace of the book didn’t lend itself to the short drives. I loved the book.

37. Saints For All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

Margaret (auntmarge64) put this one on my wishlist back in 2019, and I forgot about it. My daughter was listening to it last week and said she was enjoying it, and said it was full of local references. There were many references to the towns near where I’ve recently moved. I was born in Ireland, so the references to Ireland were also interesting.

The book moves back and forth from the 1950’s to 2009. Nora’s mother died and she has been caring for her younger sister Theresa. Everyone expects her to marry Charlie, the eldest son of the neighboring farm. Charlie moved to America, and expects Nora to join him in Boston so that they can get married as soon as he has enough money to send for her. Nora brings Theresa with her so that her younger sister can pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Nora is having second thoughts, when teenage Theresa becomes pregnant. Soon after, Nora marries Charlie, they adopt the baby, and Theresa joins a cloistered convent. This isn’t really giving anything away, as you find this out in the beginning of the book. The sisters are estranged and no longer speak to one another, when in 2009 a tragic event brings them back together. Throughout the the book you find out more about Nora’s children who are all coming together. Everyone has secrets.

Being Irish, I am allowed to say, the Irish know how to hold a grudge. When my son got married, a woman from Ireland, who was the mother of one of our extended family came in, and across the room saw her look-a-like, who happened to be married to an uncle of my new daughter-in-law. It was her sister to whom she hadn’t spoken in almost forty years. There was no happy reunion as they completely pretended the other wasn’t there. I’ve seen other instances like this over the years, so it made that part of the story quite believable for me.

I know this all sounds very soap opera’ish’, but the book was good.

Interesting wedding story. Saints for All Occasions sounds good…and I like the title.

>12 NanaCC: Wow... what a story (yours, although I'm sure the book was good too).

>13 dchaikin: The younger sister collected cards of all of the saints when she was little. Thus the title. You might need to be a catholic to understand that part, but each saint was/is supposed to have done something to earn the “title” of saint. For believers, if you lost something, you prayed to St Anthony. St Francis was the patron saint of animals. There were picture cards of each saint with their story. These cards are what she collected.

>14 lisapeet: Lol. There are many more like that. It sounds crazy, but true. Fortunately, my own family are all very close, and we can just roll our eyes and laugh about it.

38. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Laura (lauralkeet) had reviewed this book early last month, and I knew I was going to enjoy it. The Prolog starts…

“I was nearly eleven when they came, and my sister was nine.

They lived with us for more than five years and they turned everything very, very dark. My sister and I had to learn how to survive.

And when I was sixteen, and my sister was fourteen, the baby came.”

The book tells the story starting 25 years later, when “the baby” turns 25. Libby, who had been adopted, receives a letter on her 25th birthday, telling her that she has inherited a house worth millions. When she meets with the solicitor and he takes her to see the house, she starts to learn about its nightmarish history. It seems the occupants of the house lived in some sort of cult. Her parents were found dead as part of a suicide pact, four teenage children were missing, and “the baby” was found healthy and happy upstairs. Libby’s quest to find her missing relatives begins. The book was creepy, in a good way. It is told from the points of view of the brother, the sister, and “the baby”, Libby.

>17 NanaCC: I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Colleen!

>18 lauralkeet: It was a bit of a page turner for me. Thank you for the recommendation.

>17 NanaCC: I borrowed that book from the library and for some unknown reason returned it unread. Now it's back on the "to-borrow again" list. Glad to hear you liked it. I enjoyed Watching You by the same author.

>19 NanaCC: you're welcome!

>20 VivienneR: I hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Vivienne. I’ll put Watching You on my wishlist.

>21 lauralkeet: 😄

Hi Colleen - Both the Sullivan and the Jewell books sound good, and I love your wedding story! After spending a few days with my family, I can totally see how grudges get started. My daughter always says we have lots of drama in our family.

>23 BLBera: Hi, Beth..I enjoyed both. I think you would enjoy them as well. The Jewell is listed as a thriller in some places, but it really isn’t that intense - more suspenseful. I did think it was a page turner as I really wanted to see where it was going.

Family Drama..gotta love it! 😄

Duplicate message

39. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Gifty, the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, is working towards her PhD in neuroscience at Stanford University. The focus of her work is to find a way to effect the neural circuits causing addiction and depression. Both are close to her heart as she works through grief at the loss of her brother to addiction, and as she copes with a mother deep in suicidal depression. Growing up in a white evangelical town in Alabama, her faith and her scientific mind are at odds as she tries to recapture the intense feelings she experienced in church as a child. The book touches on these things, as well as the racism experienced after her brothers death, because “of course these kind….”.

I’m doing a terrible job describing this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The writing is excellent. I see reviews that Gyasi’s previous book Homegoing is even better, which means I’m putting a book on my own wishlist.

40. The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen

This is number 14 in the Her Royal Spyness series. These books are pure fluff, but mostly enjoyable. In this one Georgie and her friend Belinda are off to Cornwall to look at a property that Belinda has inherited from her grandmother. The house is uninhabitable, and while they are looking for a place to stay, they are invited by an old acquaintance to stay at their house. A murder occurs, and Belinda is the prime suspect. As I said, these are very light cosy mysteries, and I go into them knowing that. They work when I need something that is total cotton candy.

>26 NanaCC: I liked your description. I was maybe mixed on Homegoing, but I'm interested in this newer novel.

>28 dchaikin: I’ll get to Homegoing at some point, Dan. There are so many books that I want to read. Getting to all of them is the problem.

I also loved Transcendent Kingdom, Colleen. I think I'm in the minority, but I liked it better than Homegoing, which was good as well.

>30 BLBera: I did see mixed reviews, Beth, so I expect to see differences of opinion about which is the better book. I thought Transcendent Kingdom was a special book.

41. Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel

I’d forgotten how much I loved this book when it first came out. I know opinions differ, but I liked this one better than Wolf Hall. Maybe it was because I thought it was an easier read, I’m not sure. Mantel’s interpretation of Cromwell’s maneuvering to bring down Anne Boleyn so that the king could move on to Jane Seymour was so well done. And the poor men he brought down with her. I felt sorry for all of them.

I’ll get to The Mirror and the Light soon.

I liked Wolf Hall better, Colleen, but not by much. I, too, hope to get to The Mirror and the Light soon.

>33 BLBera: I also loved Wolf Hall, Beth. But for me there was something about Bring Up the Bodies that was a bit better. Both were outstanding.

>32 NanaCC: yay! I think BUtB is a nice tight novel, and it’s plot driven. The other two don’t manage _either_ of those two things.

>35 dchaikin: Yay! Another vote for BUtB. 😄 Knowing a good bit of the history probably helps, but I felt that in this book you can see where the third book is heading. He’s got friends whispering in his ear… BE CAREFUL!

It seems Mantel's first two Cromwell books have blended together in my memory. I think that's because after reading the books, I watched the dramatization which covered both. I loved The Mirror and the Light, even though you know how it will end, if you know what I mean.

>36 NanaCC: yup. : )

I think I loved Wolf Hall more than Bring Up the Bodies Colleen, simply because it was such a bold, audacious book compared to most of what I had read previously. Plus the fact I think she dumbed down the second book or maybe I should just say simplified. Whatever, it didn't have the same impact on me. And then we had to wait so long for The Mirror and the Light it once again had more impact on me. That said, I gave each book five stars.

>17 NanaCC: I'll look for a copy -- that sounds right up my alley.

>26 NanaCC: I loved Transcendent Kingdom. Homegoing is different, but also very good.

>32 NanaCC: Bring Up the Bodies is a page-turner for sure.

>37 lauralkeet: I read both books when they first came out, Laura, and as I said I loved both. I’m really looking forward to the Mirror, and do know what you mean.
>38 dchaikin: 😄
>39 brenzi: I do understand your thoughts about loving WH more, Bonnie. I think I just liked the structure of BUtB more. They definitely deserved your 5’s.
>40 RidgewayGirl: I hope you like The Family Upstairs, Kay. I’ll look forward to your thoughts. I’ll get to Homegoing soon. I agree the BUtB was a page-turner. Mantel crafted both books very neatly.

>27 NanaCC: For a bit fun Rhys Bowen is wonderful!

>32 NanaCC: I loved all of the series but I gave Wolf Hall and The Mirror and the Light five stars while Bring Up the Bodies just earned 4.5. Not sure why because I loved all of them. I agree that BUtB was an easier read than WH, probably because we knew the characters a bit better.

>42 VivienneR: VivienneR: The only quibble I have with this series by Rhys Bowen, Vivienne, is the new reader. The original reader, Katherine Kellgren died after recording book 11. I had her voice in my head for the main characters, and while the new reader does a fairly decent job, she’s just not Kellgren. I know, I’m picky picky picky.

>43 NanaCC: I gave five stars to both WH and BUtB when I first read them. I’m hoping to get the same experience with the Mirror.

42. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Kay (RidgewayGirl) and Caroline_McElwee put this book on my wishlist. It was really good. Twin sisters who grew up in a small southern town that doesn’t appear on any maps, run away to New Orleans at the age of sixteen. Until this point in their lives, they’ve been inseparable. One day, one of the twins leaves to pass as a white woman, marrying a rich white man, and raising her daughter in a world of privilege, fearing every day that her secret will come out. Her sister follows a very different path, and never stops thinking about and wanting to find her twin. The book touches on identity, race, gender, family, secrets and lies. I’m not finding it easy to describe the book, but I highly recommend it.

>32 NanaCC: I'd struggle to call a favourite in this trilogy, Colleen. What a great story she wove with Cromwell.

>44 NanaCC: I loved this. It's such a well crafted novel.

>45 AlisonY: Absolutely, Alison. I’ll be reading the third book very soon.

>46 RidgewayGirl: I agree, Kay. You had put it on my wishlist a few months ago, I believe. Caroline just pushed it up to the front of the list. My description doesn’t in any way do it justice. I flew through it.

>44 NanaCC: yeah, that's a good one, Colleen. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

>48 lauralkeet: I think we must have been posting at the same time, Laura. I’m very happy I read it.

>44 NanaCC: I really enjoyed this one recently Colleen, and have her earlier novel in the pile.

>50 Caroline_McElwee: I’ll look for your comments on the other book when you get to it Caroline. Thank you for the push toward this one.

43. S is for Silence and
44. T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton

Grafton’s alphabet series has followed a pretty consistent pattern from the beginning. The books are written in basically a diary format, as Kinsey Millhone recaps and submits the facts about her latest case. In “S” she broke the format, and interjected chapters that flashed back to things that were happening in the early 50’s, and were not told in Kinsey’s first person dialog. The daughter of a woman who had been missing for 30 plus years has asked Kinsey to find out what happened to her mother. The flashbacks lead you to make assumptions about what actually happened. I thought it was well done, and wondered if she would break the mold again in “T”. So, I jumped right into it.

In “T” she did something different again. In this one there are chapters devoted to a woman who is preying on the elderly. She’s pretending to be a nurse caregiver, and is setting these people up to steal their money. In these chapters we are watching her commit whatever it is that she’s doing. In Kinsey’s diary we hear Kinsey relate the story in her report format. The woman’s big mistake is inserting herself in the home of Kinsey’s elderly neighbor.
Well done.

>52 NanaCC: I have a number of Grafton's books, picked up a a library booksale but haven't read any so far. I started an early one but somehow it didn't capture my attention and wasn't finished. Your review sounds like it's time to try again.

>53 VivienneR: It’s possible that Grafton just isn’t your cup of tea, Vivienne. I’ve read them in order, and enjoy the progression of Kinsey’s character and the other minor characters. The books are light fun for me, and did help me get through a really lousy year. But I can understand that others might not enjoy them.

45. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

I’m so glad that I decided to reread Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies before starting the conclusion to the trilogy. The fact that this book didn’t win the Booker prize as the first two did is surprising. I think it is every bit as good. The book picks up right where Bring Up the Bodies ends, with the beheading of Anne Boleyn. We live inside Cromwell’s head throughout, and can see how his arrogance is going to be his demise. I don’t think he can help himself. He has people he hates and would like to see gone. He’s making enemies all along the way, and yet he really thinks that Henry will continue to back him. He doesn’t listen when his people tell him to be careful. That is, until he realizes it’s turning badly after the fiasco with Anne of Cleves. Even knowing the history, his arrest came as a surprise. Mantel managed to smack us in the face with it very quickly as she brought Cromwell’s story to an end. Mantel’s research was astounding. She has constructed an amazing book. All three books should be read together. It is a long saga, but we’ll worth reading. Historical fiction at its finest.

>55 NanaCC: Mantel did such a great job with that ending. I agree, you know where the story is going and yet it still packs a wallop.

>55 NanaCC: It really is a great trilogy. I think I need to stop telling myself I don't like historical fiction, as most of my favourite reads over the past few years have been just that!

>56 lauralkeet: It was definitely a fitting ending to a great story, Laura. She managed to make me feel sorry for Cromwell, even though he was ruthless and probably didn’t really deserve pity. I think being a nobleman in that era must have been a roller coaster ride of emotions.

>57 AlisonY: I love good historical fiction, Alison. Last year, I read The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman, which follows the last of the Plantagenets who came before the Tudors in the time called The War of the Roses. It is a page turner. You might enjoy it.

>58 NanaCC: Thanks Colleen - will take a look at that.

>55 NanaCC: Wasn't that a wonderful trilogy! I will re-read at some point when I can read them in sequence. I'm sorry that she didn't get a well deserved Booker hat-trick.

>59 AlisonY: I will watch to see your comments if you do get to it, Alison.

>60 VivienneR: It definitely was wonderful, Vivienne. I think reading them close together is really a treat. The third Booker would have been deserved, but I guess the judges had a different opinion.

Great comments on The Mirror and the Light, Colleen. I hope to read it this summer. One of the things I really like about the books is how Mantel shows us the evolution of Cromwell. He becomes more and more arrogant. I started Wolf Hall liking him, and by the end of Bring Up the Bodies, not so much.

>62 BLBera: You can see in this book, Beth, how Mantel has him becoming more reckless too. At times he doesn’t get as involved as he had previously. And yet, I felt sorry for him at the end. I’ll look forward to your comments. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it.

46. Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd

This is the fifteenth book in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series. It is 1919. A dead body with no identification other than a pocket watch which doesn’t belong to him. The watch leads to the owners of a wine import business dealing in Madeira. Both men are missing. The man who runs the day to day business is arrested for their murder even though there are no bodies. Rutledge must find the murderer before an innocent man is found guilty. Rutledge is still dealing with the ghost of Hamish talking in his head. Hamish is the man Rutledge was forced to execute for cowardice in the trenches in France. It has been a couple of years since I last read one of these, and I enjoyed it.

47. The Leper of Saint Giles by Ellis Peters

This is the fifth book in “The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, of the Benedictine Abby of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at Shrewsbury”. The year is 1139, and a young heiress is being forced by her aunt and uncle to marry a much older baron whose lands cover four counties in order to merge with her own lands which are as great as his. Her heart is elsewhere. The young man, a squire to the baron, is determined to stop the wedding. A murder occurs and Brother Cadfael uses his investigative talents to be sure the wrong man isn’t hanged.

These books are probably considered cozy mysteries. The time frame is interesting. Meredith had introduced me to them several years ago.

48. Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Julia Franklin

This is the second book in the Vera Stanhope series. A fifteen year old girl was murdered ten years ago, and the woman who was charged with the murder has just been proven innocent. Vera is assigned to the case, to find out who did commit the murder. Vera starts by talking to the woman who was the fifteen year old best friend of the murdered girl, as she was the one to find the body. There were lots of red herrings. I really enjoy the Vera character in the tv series “Vera”, played by Brenda Blethyn. I think she plays the character pretty much like the book…dumpy and brusque. Although, she isn’t nearly as dumpy as the book character is described. I thought I knew who the murderer was, but I was wrong.

49. The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan, narrated by Aoife McMahon

Book 2 in the Cormac Reilly series takes place in Galway. In the first book, The Ruin, we learned that Cormac and his girlfriend, Emma, had moved to Galway from Dublin. His new colleagues were not happy with the newcomer, and the relationships in this book are somewhat better, until his girlfriend reports a hit and run. He takes over the case, hoping to keep her out of the investigation. But as the victim worked for the same high-tech company, Emma becomes a suspect. I enjoyed this one, and will continue with the series.

50. Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayers

I’m waiting on three books that I have on hold at the library. I needed something on my kindle for my nighttime reading, and this re-read of the first in the Lord Peter Wimsey series hit the spot. This is definitely not the best in the series, but we are introduced to several characters who will appear in the novels that follow. Sayers touches on Lord Peter's shell shock as a result of his time in the trenches of WWI, and we get to know his trusty and devoted manservant Bunter who was with him during the war.

The story starts with an unidentified body in the bathtub of an acquaintance of Lord Peter's mother. The body is naked except for a gold pince-nez and bears a very slight resemblance to a missing financier. Is it the same man? How did he get into that bathtub? Peter and his friend Inspector Parker work together to solve the mystery.

I am a fan of Dorothy Sayers.

>68 NanaCC: As you know, Colleen, I recently read this one for the first time. I enjoyed meeting the characters even if the mystery wasn't that great.

>69 lauralkeet:. Right, Laura. I agree. It really does set up the main characters very well. The books keep getting better, I think. Gaudy Night is my favorite.

>68 NanaCC: Sayers has a style of writing that manages to make even her weaker mysteries into quite enjoyable books.

>71 AnnieMod: I agree, Annie. I’m going to reread all of them in the next couple of months. They make me happy.

>72 NanaCC: If I remember where mine are I may actually join you -- I had been meaning to deal with these boxes anyway... :)

>73 AnnieMod: Many boxes? 😄 I still have a few boxes from our move to Massachusetts from New Jersey. I’ll get to them someday. None are books, or I’d be more inclined.

>74 NanaCC: Well, I changed apartments 5 years ago. There are boxes from back then that are still closed as they were the day they got moved. And then there are a lot of boxes that got packed since then because I had no space -- and I did not keep track of what went where. So one of this summer's plans is to actually go through them and figure out what I DO have and where everything is... Most of the boxes are books (or contain books).

>75 AnnieMod: Those should be fun finds. :-)

I love the Sayers books, too, Colleen! I also recently read The Scholar. I wish my library had these books.

You're really tempting me with all this Sayers talk. Colleen, it sounds like you'll be binge-reading them? I'm not likely to jump into that pool but you're inspiring me to read the next book sooner rather than later. My library has the Lord Peter Wimsey books in Kindle editions. I didn't look closely enough to see if they have them all, but they have at least the first few so that will keep me going.

>77 BLBera:, >78 lauralkeet: I bought the Wimseys for kindle years ago when they were on sale. Probably for $1.99. I’m not sure if I have them all on kindle, but if not I must have the hard copies somewhere.

I listened to The Scholar, Beth. I’m not sure if that’s what you meant for the library. Or possibly the Sayers. I use audible credits for the books I listen to.

I own the Sayers books, Colleen. I was wishing my library owned the McTiernan books.

>80 BLBera: I thought that might be the case, Beth. I just checked, and my library has a limited number of The Scholar. Since I listened to it, I didn’t check before. I’ve never borrowed an audiobook. I’ve always used my credits from Audible. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. I thought this was a good one.

51. U is For Undertow by Sue Grafton

This book has several threads which you can watch heading together to merge at the end. A young man comes to Kinsey’s office and tells her that he believes he saw something related to a kidnapping in 1968 when he was six years old. The story of the kidnapping has just been mentioned in the local paper as it is the twentieth anniversary of the child’s disappearance, and it has triggered his memory. He says that he saw two men burying something in the woods. They told him that they were pirates looking for treasure. He claims it was his birthday and that’s how he remembered the timeframe. Chapters from the 60’s are interspersed with the present (the 80’s of these books). As a reader, we know who is involved, but as the book gets closer and closer to the end, the pieces start falling into place. It was a good addition to the series.

>82 NanaCC: I still have to read a Sue Grafton book. When she published the first one in the series I was working in a public library and she was a big hit. I read a bit at the beginning but for some reason it didn't attract me much. I've since collected some of the later ones and hope to get to them sometime. Now that I know you are a fan, I'm sure I'll enjoy them too.

>83 VivienneR: If you do get to them, Vivienne, I hope you enjoy them. They are light reading, which I seem to be doing a lot of these days.

52. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers

I hadn’t intended to read this so soon after finishing Whose Body, but I find the Peter Wimsey books to be a little bit like pistachio nuts…you can’t eat just one.

This is second in the series, and is much more developed than the first. It still doesn’t come up to the quality of the later ones, but is full of humor. It helps develop many of the recurring characters. Lord Peter Wimsey has just finished a vacation, when he learns that his brother has been accused of murdering his sister’s fiancé. Of course, we know his brother didn’t do it, but who did? There are lots of red herrings thrown about, as Peter and his friend DC Parker follow all of the clues. The ending is stretched on a bit too long, but I enjoyed the book.

At some point in time, I bought a bunch of Dorothy Sayer books for my Kindle, where all books go to die Colleen. Looking at my Kindle now I see I have Clouds of Witness, Lord Peter Views the Body, Strong Poison, Unnatural Death, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, and Whose Body?. Maybe you can get me to read them although the idea of starting a new series makes me gag. Lol

>86 brenzi: I won’t twist your arm, Bonnie, but they are a bit of fun. My favorite is Gaudy Night, but there are quite few before that one. :-)

Bonnie, I'm planning to work my way through the Lord Peter books. I'm in no rush and will probably space them out quite a bit. They're a lot shorter than the Lymond books ... just sayin'. 😀

>88 lauralkeet: 😊

53. This Body of Death by Elizabeth George

I haven’t read one of the inspector Lynley/Havers books in a couple of years. I think it must have put enough distance between whatever I wasn’t happy about, because I did enjoy this one. There are two story lines, that do meet up eventually. One is a rather gruesome telling of the murder of a toddler by three boys ages ten and eleven. The other is the murder of a woman that takes place in a graveyard. Lynley is coaxed back to work by the new temporary boss who is in way over her head. Havers is her usual self, which is really the best part of these books, as she defies orders and goes off following her own instincts. When told that she needs to dress more professionally by the new acting boss, her eight year old neighbor goes shopping to help her pick out clothes. That was quite funny. I will go on to the next book, and hope that the new boss doesn’t become permanent.

>90 NanaCC: Or maybe whatever it was either worked better here or was missing :) I need to get around to this series one of these days.

>91 AnnieMod: If you’ve never read it, start at the beginning, which I’m sure you do. Most are quite long though. I like settling in with a nice long book. I know that bothers some people.

>92 NanaCC: I watched the first episode in the series based on them and decided I want to read the books. It is somewhere on the mountain of series waiting :)

Considering that the early Roy Grace books are 600+ pages and I ate them like candy, long books really do not worry me :) Plus I read fantasy as well - if you think mystery books can be long, you should see fantasy.

>93 AnnieMod: :-) The books are much better than the tv series.

You're making me want to go back to the George books, Colleen. I read the first few and then for some reason went off on the series.

You are almost through the Grafton! I imagine that for me it will be a multiyear project!

>95 BLBera: The book I just finished had some pretty graphic detail about the murder of a toddler. If that would be too much for you, you could skip those parts after you get the gist of it in the first chapter devoted to it. They are separate chapters throughout the rest of the book. All in all I’ve enjoyed the series except the couple that centered around Simon’s wife Deborah.

As for the Grafton books, I actually started the reread late in 2019. Multiyear works.

I think a lot of people stopped reading the Elizabeth George books when one of the main characters was senselessly murdered and the following book was a semi-standalone focused on the teenager who did the deed. (Not sure how to do spoilers, so I hope this is vague enough) I actually liked those 2 installments of the series, though I was shocked by the death. The only ones I haven't liked are those that feature whiney Deborah. I'm fully up to date, and since it's been about 2 years since her last one, I hope there's a new one soon. The more recent ones have featured Havers, so I think George got the message that most of her readers like Havers the best. Unfortunately the awful boss sticks around.

>97 arubabookwoman: I read up to the one with the death. I skipped the semi-standalone. This one was right after that, and I did enjoy it. I’ve just finished the next one Believing the Lie, which once again features whiney Deborah. What an awful character. But, since I enjoy the books, I will continue with the three remaining..
According to the LT series list, the last two were published in 2015 and 2018. So maybe a new one soon? Another three year gap?

54. Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George

I’m still waiting on three books that I have on hold at the library, so I decided to jump right in with the next book, #17, in the Lynley/Havers series. Lynley’s boss’ boss asks him to investigate the drowning of the nephew of a wealthy and influential man at the behest of the man. It has been ruled an accident, but the man has some doubts. Lynley is asked to do it on the QT, so he’s off without letting his boss know where he is. He takes Simon and Deborah St, James with him. The Deborah character is awful as usual. She goes off on a tangent, even after she’s told that they are finished and causes a whole heap of trouble. Being defiant is one thing, but doing it like a two year old having a tantrum is another. I can’t say that I liked this book, but I wanted to finish the series so I needed to plow through. A dysfunctional family full of secrets and lies. Definitely not enough of Barbara Havers, but the ending left me hopeful that she will have a big part to play in the next book.

>99 NanaCC: #17! I think I only read the first three. I guess that leaves me some catching up... I did like Havers. I wish there were more reading hours in the day.

>100 BLBera: A common lament around here, Beth.

55. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell

I forgot to add this book which I finished a couple of weeks ago. I think I mentioned that I’d read it on someone’s thread, and promptly forgot. I spent a week in Maine afterwards, so I think I’ll use that as an excuse.

This is the latest, #13, in the Ruth Galloway series. The book starts when a group of metal detectorists who call themselves The Night Hawks are searching for Bronze Age treasure on the beach in North Norfolk. They find some coins, but also discover a body that has washed up on shore. DCI Harry Nelson takes on the case, and as there are bones and old coins also on the scene, Ruth Galloway is also called in. There is a second scene at Black Dog Farm, where three bodies are found. It is thought to be a murder suicide. I thought the mysteries were pretty good, and the book’s ending provided an interesting possibility for Ruth and Harry’s relationship in the next book. Now I have to wait again. This is the problem with being up to date with a series. 😄

"This is the problem with being up to date with a series." So true! I'm about to read No. 8 in the Ruth Galloway series, so I won't run out for a while!

>102 NanaCC: I am just skimming the review - the first one in this series just made it to my kindle (one of those random “you may like” recommendations from my library’s site - sounded interesting so decided to check it.

And waiting is the worst - I have quite a few series in that state. :)

>103 laytonwoman3rd: I really enjoy this series, Linda. Definitely worth the wait each time.

>104 AnnieMod: The Crossing Places was really good, Annie. I bet you get hooked on the series. I’ve done the audio for all of them. The reader is perfect for Ruth and she does a good job with pretty much everyone else.

And I’m with you on being up to date on some series. Probably too many to count. ;-)

I am lucky I am not up-to-date on many series. I did read and enjoy The Night Hawks, though, so I also have to wait for the next Ruth, wondering what's going to happen with Harry.

>106 BLBera: That is the big question, isn’t it, Beth.

I just finished Great Circle. I’ll write my comments tomorrow. I’m in Maine with my daughter and family, so not much time for LT today. I downloaded the audio version of Louise Penny’s newest installment of Three Pines. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of time here to listen. I forgot my earbuds. But I do have another library book on my kindle. The Bombay Prince is the third book in the Perveen Mistry series.

>97 arubabookwoman: Deborah is why I stopped reading, as well as the author's insistence of making Havers a figure of fun when she is by far the most interesting character. "Wealthy" is not an interesting character trait, in my opinion.

>107 NanaCC: I'm looking forward to finding out what you think of The Great Circle.

56. Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Reviews for this book, which has been long-listed for the Booker Prize, are all over the place. Bonnie (brenzi) put it on my wishlist with her excellent review. I’m in the really enjoyed it camp. Marion Graves and her twin brother Jamie are orphaned in a shipwreck during WWI. Brought up by their uncle who is an artist and an alcoholic, they are left to their own devices which helps develop independent/ stubborn personalities. Marian at the age of 12 becomes fascinated with planes and becomes determined to learn to fly. Assisted by a wealthy bootlegger, Marion eventually learns to fly and gets a plane. The story goes through WWII where women pilots are commissioned to taxi planes back and forth for pilots in England. After the war, Marion’s goal is to circumnavigate the globe from pole to pole. Her brother’s story is told in the background, as the story is Marion’s. A secondary story involves an actress, Hadley, who is playing Marion. The book is long at about 600 pages. It has its flaws, but I found it hard to put down. I was amused by the author’s comments at the end, where she thanked her editor for helping trim her 1,000 page manuscript to the “slim” volume that was finally published.

>108 RidgewayGirl: I will be curious to see what you think about Great Circle Kay. I would say that you will enjoy it, but some of the negative reviews make me afraid to guarantee it. ;-)

>109 NanaCC: I'm glad you liked Great Circle Colleen. I've seen some complaints that it was too long, and I mentioned in my review that Hadley's story wasn't as compelling as Marian's so I suppose that could've been cut but honestly, it never seemed too long to me. I loved every minute of it. Average LT rating is 4.26 stars. Not too shabby.

>111 brenzi: I guess the length of a book doesn’t bother me, as long as I’m enjoying the book, Bonnie. I love a good epic. Anyway, I’m happy that I followed your review.

>109 NanaCC: Ha, chucked about 'the slim volume'. Of the long list, it wasn't one I planned to read before the reveal. I've read both Light Perpetual and Klara and the Sun (before the list was announced), a theme going on in the titles at least; and have a couple of others on the list to read before the shortlist announcement.

So frustrated the Richard Powers novel not even published here until late September.

I did enjoy The Great Circle but I am one of those who thought it was too long. I thought the modern story could be cut without hurting the story.

Enjoyed your review, Colleen. I've had a few chunky books this year, so I don't think I'm ready to commit to a 600 pager just at the moment, but maybe I'll get to it at some point.

>113 Caroline_McElwee: There are so many books, Caroline. I’ll never get to all of the ones I really want to read.

>114 BLBera: I understand that thought, Beth. I think she used it as a device to move some of the story along, but she could have done that differently.

>115 AlisonY: I think I always enjoy a good chunky book. 😀 But there are definitely times I need a few shorter ones to balance it out.

57. The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

This is the third book in the Perveen Mistry series. In the series, Perveen is the only woman lawyer in Bombay. It is 1921, and Prince Edward is making a Royal visit to India at a time when many are protesting for independence. There are peaceful demonstrations, but the prince’s visit sets off some violence as well. A young woman from the college where Perveen’s English friend Alice teaches, comes to her a few days prior to the visit to ask advice about whether she can be expelled if she doesn’t attend the welcome parade as the students have been instructed to do. The young woman’s body is found on the school grounds just after the parade breaks up. Perveen is with the teachers who find the body, and becomes involved in the investigation. The mystery is decent, and a big plus for me with these books is the description of the culture and customs of India in this time period.

>117 NanaCC: I really need to read the second book in that series Colleen. I loved the first one for the same reason you cited: not the mystery so much as the cultural drenching. So good

>117 NanaCC: A review in the latest EQMM made me look at that series the other day. Sounds like I really need to read it. :)

>118 brenzi: Bonnie, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy the second one as well. I love a book that has a rich cultural background.

>119 AnnieMod: Lois (avaland) had sent me the first book a couple of years ago, Annie. I enjoyed it, and the second was good too. This one just came out in June, and I was on the waiting list at the library for weeks. I’ll look forward to your comments.

>117This sounds like a great series. I must check it out...

>121 BLBera: I think you’d like it, Beth. Starting with the first one, The Widows of Malabar Hill.

>102 NanaCC: I'm so glad to hear you are still enjoying Elly Griffiths. I still have a few to go before I reach The Night Hawks but I have it on my library list.

>117 NanaCC: Adding The Bombay Prince to my list as well. I have The Widows of Malabar Hill gathering dust on the shelf. You are an inspiration!

>123 VivienneR: Griffiths can’t write these fast enough for me, Vivienne. ;-) I really do enjoy the personal relationships as well as the mysteries involved.

I look forward to you dusting off the Widows. I’ll be curious to see your thoughts.

And the inspiration goes both ways. You are part of the reason I can’t ever get through my wishlist.

>124 NanaCC: It worries me when I catch up to an author. I don't have a high level of patience to wait. :)

58. Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George

Barbara Havers is back in book number 18, with a vengeance. She was practically missing in the last book and she’s really the best thing about these books. Her neighbor Azhar’s daughter Hadiyyah has been taken from him by the girl’s mother. He’s frantic because even though he’s the girls father, nothing exists to prove that. Barbara is more than fond of both father and daughter and decides she’s going to help get Hadiyyah back. She enlists the help of a private detective whose methods may be as crazy as her own, and urges a reporter for a rag newspaper to write a story that will get attention. This comes at a price, as do a lot of her actions in this one. In her usual bull in a china shop “what rules” manner, she winds up having Lynley sent to Italy to find her. In fact in true Barbara Havers fashion at one point my thought was “what the bloody hell Barbara?!” And then despite the crazy storyline I thought in much the same Barbara fashion “sod it” and just settled down to enjoy the whole thing…warts (and there are way too many) and all.

>126 NanaCC: Your Havers-style internal monologue, made me laugh, Colleen. I haven't read the books but really enjoyed the TV series with Sharon Small as Havers.

>125 VivienneR: I have several series where I’m impatiently waiting for a new book, Vivienne. And, a couple where it’s been so long, I guess the series must be finished.

>127 lauralkeet: I watched the series a couple of years ago, Laura. As much as I enjoyed it, the problem I had was that neither actor looked anything like their descriptions in the books.

>128 NanaCC: Oh, the dissonance would bother me too. But I remain blissfully ignorant, clinging to my image of Sharon Small/Havers.

>129 lauralkeet: ;-)

59. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers

This is the third book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. An elderly woman dies, and her doctor is disgraced by rumors about him, after he claims that he doesn’t believe the coroners report that it was natural causes. Wimsey agrees that the circumstances seem unusual and he’s determined to prove himself right. This is the first book where the character Miss Climpson appears. Wimsey hires her to pose as someone needing a room near where the dead woman lived, and to snoop around. She’s a great character added to the cast. Wimsey and his brother-in-law detective Charles Parker, along with Miss Climpson, solve the case, but not before a couple of murders occur. I do enjoy these books. They are fairly quick reads. Wimsey is a little bit like Bertie Wooster, mixed with inspector Lynley.

60. The Dry by Jane Harper

I’m surprised that I wasn’t aware of this book until my daughter suggested I read it a few days ago. The story takes place in a small town in Australia, where a several years long drought has created an environment where the town and its farms are dying. The people are worn down by the oppressive heat and tempers are high. Aaron Falk, a policeman who investigates financial crimes, has come home to this town for the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke Handler, Handler’s wife and young son, victims of a murder suicide. Handler’s parents don’t believe their son could have done this to his family, and they ask Falk to look into it for them. Flashbacks throughout the story to another crime from Falk’s teenage years, throw suspicion in several directions. There were several really well drawn characters. I found the book to be a bit of a page turner, and very entertaining. This was the author’s first book, but I don’t think it has many of the flaws one might expect. If you enjoy a police procedural/mystery, I think you’d enjoy this one.

I've read three of her books Colleen and I liked this one best. I had to drop the audio of The Survivors though because of the lousy narration.

>132 NanaCC: Colleen, I recently read Force of Nature which also features Aaron Falk. It's a 2-book series so if you read it soon you can chalk up another completed series LOL.

>133 brenzi: I hate when the audio narration is bad, Bonnie. I usually try to listen to the sample first to see what I think, but there have been times I was sorry I used an audible credit..

>134 lauralkeet: ;-) I’ll take that under consideration, Laura. I was going to check to see what people thought of it. I didn’t realize it was a series until I was looking at reviews. There are times when I hate to see the end of a series.

Hi Colleen - I really liked The Dry as well. I thought Harper did such a great job with setting and atmosphere.

>132 NanaCC: I heard a podcast about this book and just bought a copy. It seems to be popping up everywhere!

>136 BLBera: Have you read the second book, Force of Nature, Beth? I just downloaded it from the library. I need to finish the book I’m currently reading first though.

>137 Yells: I picked it up because of my daughter’s suggestion, but it really does have a lot of love here on LT. I’m just not sure how I missed the reviews. And was totally surprised that it was a “first” book. It didn’t have that first book feel at all. I hope you enjoy it as well.

I haven't read the second one yet, Colleen. Too many books... I'll watch for your comments.

61. Slow Horses by Mick Herron

Well, this was fun. Vivienne had posted a review about a week ago, and I couldn’t resist. This is the first book in the Slough House (rhymes with cow) series, which my daughter had mentioned a while ago. The author had been interviewed for the release of the latest in the series and she thought I’d be interested. Vivienne’s review confirmed that. Slough House is an arm of MI5 where a band of misfit spies muddle through doing useless work. They are here because they’ve messed up badly. They’ve been nicknamed Slow Horses. They don’t like each other. None of them know why their unlikeable boss, Jackson Lamb, is there, but he sits in his office on the top floor of their dingy nondescript building that has a front door that never opens. River Cartwright believes that he is there because he was set up, but for once he’s actually doing a real op. He’s following a washed up journalist with right wing beliefs. Things start to go wrong, and bodies start turning up. There is a lot of dark humor in this one. It’s not like any spy novel I’ve read before. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

62. Force of Nature by Jane Harper

This book is the second book in the Aaron Falk series. While it isn’t quite as good as The Dry, I enjoyed it. Five men and five women head into the dense wooded Australian outback on a company team building weekend. The men are on one trail, the women on another. They’ve been given a map with routes, where a campsite has been sent up with supplies at the end of each day. The women get lost on day two, and things spiral out of control. Only four women make it out at the end, and the book follows the rescuers as they search for the missing woman. Interspersed are chapters that go back to the beginning of the hike and follow the women as they make decisions and argue and brawl their way through the forest. Federal agents Aaron Falk and his partner Carmen become involved, because the missing woman has been helping them with their investigation of money laundering at the company. Is she missing because the brother and sister who run the company and are on the hike have discovered that she’s working with the agents, or does it have to do with the nasty bickering between all of these unlikable women. They all had reasons for disliking her. There were quite a few red herrings thrown in, leading to an ending that wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I’m not sure if this book is the end of the series, but the two books have well drawn characters and atmospheric settings.

>141 NanaCC: I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Colleen. As you know, I read it recently myself. I read The Dry several years ago, and didn't remember enough to know whether I liked one better than the other.

As far as I know, there are no more Aaron Falk books. Harper has published two books since Force of Nature, but they don't feature Aaron. I hope to get to them one of these days.

>142 lauralkeet: I only had little quibbles with this book, Laura, which made me feel that I liked The Dry better. But I really did enjoy this one too. I like the Aaron Falk character. It’s too bad there aren’t more.

> 141 I highly recommend The Lost Man which I think I liked as much, if not slightly more than The Dry. Both have such a strong sense of place - the landscape is almost another character.

>144 rhian_of_oz: I have that one on my wishlist courtesy of Vivienne. Another recommendation pushes it up the pile. 😊 Thank you Rhian.

Just stopping by to say hello, Colleen. I've been lurking regularly, but conscious I haven't in a while. Hope you're keeping well.

Hi Alison. I’m doing well, thank you for asking. I do a lot of lurking myself, so I understand. There are just so many hours in a day.

63. Dead Lions by Mick Herron

This is the second book in the Slough House series. The first book Slow Horses in >140 NanaCC: sets up the storyline of the misfit team of MI5 spies. These books are a little bit like candy, and I have a sweet tooth. They are short and very entertaining. This one was just under 300 pages. A Cold-War era agent turns up dead on a bus. His death is ruled a heart attack, but Jackson Lamb thinks that he has been murdered, and that a Russian sleeper cell has been awakened. MI5 has also “borrowed” two of the slow horses to babysit a Russian businessman with whom they’d like to do business. Big mistake. Vivienne had done the review that put me on to these. I’m trying not to gobble them up. There are only seven, so I could get through them rather quickly. If you think you’d like a unique spy thriller, I think you just might like these.

64. The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny, narrated by Robert Bathurst

Number 17 in the Three Pines series. I love this series, but this one set in post-pandemic Canada was not one of my favorites. I enjoyed it. All of the usual characters that those of us who are fans of the series love were there. There were a lot of moral and political conflicts, and of course a murder. I think there was something a little “off” with the writing. There seemed to be some repetition and since I listen to these books, it’s possible I imagined that. But I think Penny handled the pandemic in an interesting way.

65. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

If you like a book that can make you laugh, this series just might do it for you. This is the second book in The Thursday Murder Club series. In the previous book, we are introduced to four septuagenarian friends who make up the Thursday Murder Club…Elizabeth the ex-spy, Joyce the retired nurse, Ibrahim the retired psychiatrist, and Ron the retired union boss. They meet on Thursdays to try to solve unsolved murder cases. Two local cops, Chris and Donna, have become part of the group, and they work together to solve the crimes. As in the first book, excitement ensues when they are involved in the real thing. First off, Ibrahim is attacked when he goes into town, and Chris and Donna swear revenge. In this book, stolen diamonds, drug dealers, a mafia connection, and a couple of murders provide the excitement. The dialog is quite funny, but the mystery is a good one as well. I saw a webinar last week where the author said that he is committed to a book a year. I’ll definitely be in the queue for the next.

Wow Colleen, you're plowing through a lot of books that I want to read. I've been interested in the Herron series for a long time and haven't tried it out but you've made it sound very enticing. And I can't wait till my number is called for the second Osman book.

>151 brenzi: I’d love to see what you think of the Herron series, Bonnie. I’ve got all I can do to stop myself from plowing through them. The Osman is delightful.

>150 NanaCC: Club Read is sliding into a single brain-organism or so it feels like some days. I put the first of these on hold a week or so ago (the library added the second and it looked fun). That’s the third time that has happened in the last weeks :)

>153 AnnieMod: I look forward to your thoughts Annie. I love a book that makes me laugh out loud.

>150 NanaCC: In my pile Colleen, hoping to get to it at the weekend. I enjoyed the first.

>154 NanaCC: It will be awhile - probably because the second one just came out, the first one has a lot of people waiting for it. It is either that or the book is just extremely popular here because probably half of the patrons of my library are at the same age as the protagonists.

>155 Caroline_McElwee: I think you will love it, Caroline.

>156 AnnieMod: That was my thinking too for a bit, but my 22 year old granddaughter loved it, and has already started the new one.

>157 NanaCC: I was just semi-joking but Scottsdale has relatively old population (the median age is ~48 years compared to the 32-35 in the rest of the valley and 38 for the State). And I am not sure if this counts the ones that live here only in the winter or if they will send the numbers even higher. And the library reflects that a bit - there are titles I know I will need to wait a lot for even when they have a lot of copies (both e- and paper); pretty much anything genre is an easy ask even if they have a single copy (unless it somehow got popular). So there is that :)

>158 AnnieMod: The thought really did cross my mind though. The dialogue is just so good. And at my age resonates. ;-)

He wrote for tv previously and that probably has something to do with the way he writes. My daughter and I were saying it would make a great tv show. But I see that Steven Spielberg has bought the rights to the first book to do a film.

Hi Colleen, lot of comments ahead :)

>132 NanaCC: I really enjoyed The Dry too, as well as The Lost Man by the same author. I wasn't so keen on Force of Nature that gave me a picture more of Canada than Australia. Otherwise it was good but I missed the Aussie flavour.

>148 NanaCC: I'm delighted that you enjoyed Slow Horses. I can't wait to get to another one.

>149 NanaCC: I agree, this wasn't one of Penny's best. I had many criticisms. But I love Robert Bathurst's reading. There were a few times when the writing was so choppy that it gave Bathurst pause.

>150 NanaCC: Osman's book is on my library list but there are many ahead of me so I don't expect to get it anytime soon.

>160 VivienneR: Hi Vivienne.
I have The Lost Man on my library holds. I think you might have put it there. :)

Thank you for suggesting Slow Horses. I loved it and so did my daughter. The second one Dead Lions was just as good, I think.

Bathurst’s reading definitely helped. I still miss Ralph Cosham. His voice is Gamache in my head. Bathurst is very good, but I thought Cosham was perfect.

I was lucky to get on the waiting list for The Man Who Died Twice kindle version before the library had the book. I think the second book might even be better than the first. And the audio is also terrific. My daughter’s comment yesterday was..
“ I LOVE this reader. I know our characters won’t die off before the end of the series (unless it fits the storyline) but I’m praying the reader leads a healthy lifestyle and has no pre-existing conditions. ”

>161 NanaCC: Glad you enjoyed Slow Horses. I will try to get to the next one sooner rather than later.

Bathurst vs Cosham: It's a tough choice and it was difficult getting used to the new voice after Cosham died but for me, Bathurst has now become the voice of Gamache.

Is it Lesley Manville reading The Man Who Died Twice? Although I love her acting I found her voice a bit indistinct on the reading of Osman's first book, but that could be my faulty hearing. I'm going to read it in print as soon as I can lay my hands on it.

>162 VivienneR: I actually read The Man Who Died Twice on my kindle, but my daughter was listening. I just looked and the reader is Lesley Manville.

66. V is For Vengeance by Sue Grafton

A shoplifting ring, cheating husbands, dirty cops, and murderous gangsters leave Kinsey with her hands full and up to her eyeballs in trouble. Only three more books in this series, and I’m sad already.

67. Real Tigers by Mick Herron

This is the third book in the Slough House series. One of the Slow Horses has been kidnapped. Jackson Lamb and his band of misfit MI5 spies won’t let anyone get away with it. And, once again, someone at the top is intent upon creating havoc. These books are creative and fun. The first book is called Slow Horses and that is where you should start.

68. Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Nina Wadia

A 90 year old woman, Peggy, with a heart condition is found dead, and everyone assumes it was natural causes. However, after a conversation with her caretaker, Detective Harbinder Kaur gets suspicious. Her suspicions seem to be confirmed, when a couple of crime writers are murdered. Peggy has been mentioned in the postscripts of all of their books. This is the second book in the Harbinder Kaur series. I prefer Griffith’s Ruth Galloway series, but I liked this well enough to read the next when it comes out.

>164 NanaCC: I prefer Ruth Galloway too, although Harbinder began growing on me in this novel.

>165 lauralkeet: That’s a good way of putting it, Laura. I think in the first book it seemed to take a while for her character to even show up. In this book, I started to care about her.

Just checking in to see what you are reading, Colleen. I've got the latest Val McDermid hot in my hands and I'm hoping that might take me elsewhere for a time (a lot of my other faves seem to be retiring or doing other things).

>164 NanaCC:, >165 lauralkeet:...I think it took me a couple books to warm up to Ruth, actually.

>167 avaland: Have you tried the Slough House series, Lois. The first book is Slow Horses. They are fairly short and a lot of fun. I just finished the third, and wanted to add to my comments. Chris and I have been ploughing through them. I understand a tv series is in the near future, with Gary Oldman as the Jackson Lamb character. I really like Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie series. I’ve read two so far. Have you read her others?

>168 laytonwoman3rd: I’m glad you finally got into the Ruth Galloway series, Linda. I took to that one right away. Your thread reminds me that I need to get back to another Easy Rawlins. I’ve only read the first, so have a lot to look forward to. This is where I really miss FictFact. There are a few series that I just keep forgetting about, like Deborah Knott.

69. A Palm For Mrs Polifax by Dorothy Gilman, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

This is the fourth book in the Mrs Polifax series. Mrs Polifax had been bored with her life as a grandmother in the first book. She wanted some excitement, and decided to branch out from the gardening club, karate and yoga classes, and the knitting club and apply to work at the CIA. She accidentally gets hired, and there her adventures begin. In this book, her handler, Mr Carstairs, sends Mrs Polifax to a hotel/spa in Switzerland to find some stolen plutonium. These books were written during the Cold War and the plots are representative of that time. The dialog is quite good and amusing at times. There is plenty of excitement along the way, as Mrs Polifax encounters murderers, arms dealers, and a kidnapped woman and the woman’s grandson.

>169 NanaCC: Perhaps I'll look into those. I started the new McDermid and then set it aside. Not sure I'm ready to revisit 1979 and it's a young, female journalist protagonist....(I did this work twice in my working life, it paid terribly). I think I have to be in the right frame of mind.

>171 avaland: I’ve been having trouble settling into anything the past couple of days. Too many RL things going on. Nothing bad, just busy. And then, power was out for two days due to the big storm. So many trees and power lines down.

70. Thin Air by Ann Cleves, narrated by Kenny Blyth

The sixth book in the Shetland Island series takes place on the island of Unst, Shetland’s northernmost island. Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves arrive with their team to investigate the murder of a young woman who had disappeared after the wedding party of a friend. The myth of the ghost of a child in a white party dress plays a part in the story. Was it a true story, and has someone murdered to cover up the truth?

71. Spook Street by Nick Herron

This is number four in the Slough House series. River Cartwright is worried about his grandfather who is steadily falling further and further into dementia. MI5 is worried that as an old retired Cold War spy he might start giving away secrets. River is worried that they might actually get rid of him. In the meantime, a bomb goes off in a busy London shopping center, killing forty people. The slow horses are determined to catch the mastermind. The two storylines do meet up towards the end of the book. This was another very entertaining book in the series.

>172 NanaCC: A two-day power outage? That must have been so difficult.

A Mrs Pollifax sounds like just the book for me right now. I've got a bad cold and just want some entertainment. Interspersed with Mick Herron would be perfect.

I visited this thread a few days ago but missed the post about the power outage. That must have been pretty awful.

>175 VivienneR: Have you read any Mrs Polifax before, Vivienne? The first book is a must to set up how she winds up working for the CIA. Very funny. And with a little Mick Herron it might be just the entertainment you need.

>176 lauralkeet: Fortunately, my daughter has a generator, Laura. She came to get me on Wednesday night, so it wasn’t all bad. During the afternoon I played mahjong with two of my neighbors until it became too dark to see the tiles. I’m a newbie with the game, so it was a good way to get in some practice and to keep busy with no power. During hurricane Sandy several years ago, we were without power for a couple of days longer. That was really awful.

>178 NanaCC: I'm glad to hear you were well cared for, Colleen. As for Sandy, we had a multi-day power outage even in southeastern PA. Compared to what others experienced it was just a minor inconvenience but it didn't feel that way at the time.

Hi Colleen - I keep meaning to start the Slough House series; it has received so many positive comments. I've only read the first couple of the Shetland series and liked them a lot. I should see what's next.

>179 lauralkeet: the inconvenience while it is happening seems so awful. Once everything is fixed you start counting your blessings when you hear what others went through.

>180 BLBera: I really like both series, Beth, and I think you would too. Vivienne had introduced me to Slough House. I hadn’t heard of it before. There are just so many good books. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump the past couple of weeks. I’ve been listening to a couple, but haven’t been able to just sit and pick one up.

72. A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Rory Kinnear

I’ve been enjoying the Daniel Hawthorne series by Anthony Horowitz. Hawthorne is an ex-cop who consults with the police on hard cases. Horowitz who wrote for the tv show Foyle’s War among others appears in these books having been asked by Hawthorne to write a book about him. This is the third book in the series, and it didn’t disappoint. Anthony’s publishers want him to go to a book festival on the isle of Alderney. To his chagrin, they are more interested in having him bring Hawthorne along. A murder happens on the small island, and no one is allowed to leave. I missed several clues along the way, so was very late in guessing who the killer was.

>183 NanaCC: I met Rory Kinnear briefly at the theatre just before the pandemic started Colleen, he was sitting in front of me, at a production of 'The Seven Streams of the River Ota'.

>184 Caroline_McElwee: Wow; I'm jealous! Rory Kinnear may be my favorite British actor.

>184 Caroline_McElwee: Well, that’s exciting, Caroline. His voice was very good for this book.

>185 kidzdoc: ;-)

I also loved the Slow Horses series--just recently finished the final one, and sure hope there will be more. It looks like he's written a lot of other books (series?), but I haven't read any of those.

>187 arubabookwoman: RL has slowed down my reading the past couple of weeks. I just finished an Elizabeth George and a couple of audio books. I might be ready for the fifth in the Slow Horses series. They are really so well done. I might eventually check out one of his other series just to see how they compare.

I hope you are well, Colleen, and just too busy celebrating the season to hang out here.

>189 VivienneR: Thank you, Vivienne. I’ve just been a bit busy. I’ve been popping in once in a while to see what everyone is up to, but not taking the time to comment. I’m sure I’ll be back to normal after the holidays.

>190 NanaCC: Glad to hear all is well and you are enjoying the holiday preparations.

>191 VivienneR: Me too! *waves to Colleen*

>191 VivienneR: I hope that you are as well.

>192 lauralkeet: Waves back…😄

With seven grandchildren and their parents to buy for, it seems like boxes keep coming. All I could think about today was OMG now I have to wrap it all.. I’m headed down to CT on the 23rd. We will do our last annual Christmas Eve party at my son’s house in NJ. I’m very sad. They are moving to Florida. I’ve always loved that my kids were all within driving distance. My daughter in CT will take up the reins for Christmas Eve next year, and of course my son and his family will come up for it, but I really love all of our traditions, and my son has been doing it for almost 30 years.

>193 NanaCC: Awww, I'd be feeling sad about that too. It's nice the tradition will continue at your daughter's place. It's too bad your son and his family will be so far away. We're still within driving distance of our two but as they are not even 30 yet we know it's possible that their lives will take them to other locations and that will be difficult to deal with.

>194 lauralkeet: I guess all the changes are ones we need to deal with as they happen, Laura. I was, I’m not sure if upset is the right word, when my oldest granddaughter accepted a job in Chicago after she graduated from college. The whole driving distance thing, but she’s moving to New York City after the new year. She and her best friend from high school have found an apartment, and since my granddaughter’s boss is actually in the NY office, it’s ideal for her. Also for my daughter and for me, if truth be told. We will get to see her more often which is lovely..

Now back to books…. 😄

I'm glad she'll be closer to you and her mom! That's wonderful news.

I’m just going to jot these three down so I don’t forget them. I’ll get back to normal, hopefully, after the new year and everything settles down.

73. A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George

At the end of the previous book, Barbara Havers was about to lose her job for having gone off the books to try to help her neighbor find his daughter. In this one, superintendent Audrey has her on a very short leash as she works to solve the murder of a feminist author. Much to Audrey’s disappointment, Barbara manages to solve the case without getting into trouble. As with almost all of George’s Lynley/Havers books, this the 19th, is long but enjoyable.

74. The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

This is another of Rhys Bowen’s stand alone novels. It was ok. If I gave stars it would probably be a three star read. The story takes place during the First World War. Emily Brice wants to do something to help in the war effort. Her best friend is a nurse near the front lines, and Emily tries and is rejected for the training needed. Instead she volunteers as a land girl, helping to work the land to grow vegetables and tend animals needed to feed the country. Having grown up in a house full of servants she has never worked a day in her life. Her parents are furious and try to get her out of it, but she succeeds where everyone thought she would fail. She falls in love with an Australian pilot, a relationship doomed from the start.

75. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, narrated by Josephine Bailey

I can’t believe that I’d never read this classic children’s book before. The book originally was Published as a serial magazine story in 1910. It was published in book form in 1911. Mary Lennox, at the age of nine, returns to England from India to live with her uncle after both her parents die. She discovers a secret garden and her cousin Colin. Together the children help each other. A lovely story, and the audio narration was perfect.

Hi Colleen -
The Secret Garden! It's one of my childhood favorites. I just got out my own tattered copy to give to my granddaughter.

I hope 2022 is a year with special moments Colleen.

>199 Caroline_McElwee: I wonder where one can get some of those Russian looking Christmas ornaments

>198 BLBera: I can’t believe I hadn’t read it before, Beth. It’s lovely.

>199 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you, Caroline, and the same to you. I agree with Joyce, those ornaments are beautiful.

I’m very sad today. Our annual family Christmas Eve party at my son’s house had to be canceled. His youngest was sent home from school yesterday because she wasn’t feeling well, and tested positive this morning for Covid. She is vaccinated, but not old enough to be boosted. So far she feels pretty good, thank goodness, but since it was to be his last year hosting it, it really stinks. They are moving to Florida on the 31st (as long as closings go ok), so she will not get to say goodbye to her friends and teachers. Of course, she is devastated. I’m going to drive down to NJ on Thursday and drop off their presents on the porch. We will talk from a distance, wave and cry. This Covid situation is really getting tiresome. Inside my head I’m using stronger words. I just wish everyone would do the right thing.

>202 NanaCC: That really sucks Colleen. I'm sorry your special plans have been trashed, but hope you will find a way to take some pleasure in the holidays.

>200 Nickelini: Mine were gifted from my sister who had a friend working in Russia Joyce.

These were available via Amaz:

https://www.amazon.com/Religious-Gifts-Russian-Christmas-Ornaments/dp/B01HHGP6MG...

>202 NanaCC: Sorry to hear that, Colleen. what a bummer. My six-year-old grandson had Covid earlier this year (got it at school...and before the Omicron varient) and my cousin's 16 year old just got it, also from school. She's a surgical nurse at Lahey and they told her she didn't have to quarantine unless she had symptoms (apparently the hospital tests them all every day anyway). But their holidays plans were crushed also.

>203 Caroline_McElwee: thanks for the link. They’re beautifully unique

>203 Caroline_McElwee:, >204 avaland: I’ll spend Christmas with my daughter in CT, so I won’t be alone (as long as we all stay Covid free). But it is sad that my son and family will not be with us.

I'm so sorry to read this news, Colleen. That's so hard on everyone. I'm glad you have alternate plans, but I know how much you were looking forward to the final gathering at your son's place, and that it just won't be the same. {{{Hugs}}}

>202 NanaCC: I'm sorry to hear your plans were scuppered.

I'm sorry to hear that. Omicron is really screwing with everyone's plans, and it's especially hard coming at the end of such a tough, isolating two years. I hope you're able to celebrate with some cheer anyway.

I'm sorry about the scuttled holiday plans, Colleen, and that the wee one is missing out on the good-byes. She'll bounce back, from the virus AND the disappointment, I'm sure. But the Universe has an awful lot to answer for just now. Like you, I wish "doing the right thing" would get to be our national credo.

I'm so sorry to hear that, Colleen. It is sad and disappointing for everyone.

Aw - I know you were looking forward to that last Christmas at your son's house before he moves, Colleen. That's rotten all round. I hope you still manage to have a nice Christmas with your daughter. Let's hope COVID becomes more manageable sometime soon.

>202 NanaCC: I'm so sorry, Colleen. This pandemic is just rough. We're going to visit relatives right after Christmas, three of whom are vulnerable in one way or another and we're going to test right before we leave, but I keep telling my SIL that we can put it off even though we miss them so much.

>202 NanaCC: I'm so sorry to hear about your granddaughter getting the dreaded bug and not being able to say goodbye to her friends. The pandemic has made life unbearably difficult for many people. I hope she loves Florida. And that you all enjoy new traditions.

Wishing you a very happy new year with everything you desire.

>202 NanaCC: I am sorry about your plans, Colleen. This does really suck. And you said it, if only people would be smart, we could be over this. We also had a small Christmas; one of my nephews has been in the ICU since Thanksgiving with COVID. He was unvaccinated. It looks as though he might survive, but it will be a long recovery.

>207 lauralkeet:, >208 rhian_of_oz:, >209 lisapeet:, >210 laytonwoman3rd:, >211 japaul22:, >212 AlisonY:, >213 RidgewayGirl:, >214 VivienneR:, >215 BLBera:
Thank you for all of the kind words. I did have a lovely Christmas at my daughter’s house. Everyone who came for Christmas Eve tested before they came. It was a much smaller group, and we zoomed in anyone unable to make it. I zoomed in with my son and his family on Christmas morning as we opened our gifts. Their closing has been delayed a week, so my granddaughter will get to say goodbye to her friends and teachers. I will be in Florida for two weeks in March, and will get to see my son and family then.

Beth, I’m so sorry to hear about your nephew. That is a long time in ICU. I do hope he will survive.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy, and safe new year.

Sorry to hear your holidays plans were changed, Colleen. My six-year-old grandson picked up Covid from this 1st grade class in November. He did okay, but had to stay out of school for two weeks, and mom & dad had to quarantine too; and this was also over the Thanksgiving holiday. So no family gathering happened. I took a chocolate pie over to them....

Let's hope there will be some rays of sunshine in '22

>217 avaland: I’ve got my fingers crossed for those rays of sunshine, Lois. We all need them.

My new thread for 2022 https://www.librarything.com/topic/338206