Springing forth with new March and April reads

 

It may be hard to believe,especially if snow is falling right outside your window at this moment, but spring is on it's way.

While this lengthy winter has clearly not been the most joyful time for many of us (sending good thoughts to those afflicted in Texas these days), at least we know that this persistently chilly precipitation will eventually end.

As you look forward to brighter days in more ways than one, another seasonal pleasure awaits you in the form of new books. My small list of upcoming titles for March and April should make for a lovely bookish bouquet or a nice addition to your literary garden:

SURE TO BEE A FRIENDLY READ:

 Eileen Garvin's debut novel, The Music of Bees, introduces us to a trio of  unlikely friends who band together for a cause near and dear to their hearts.

Widowed beekeeper Alice literally runs into Jake, a troubled wheelchair bound teen in need of a new home in order to get away from his cruel father. Alice surprised herself by taking Jake in as well as hiring a new handyman, Harry, to fix up her place. She's not much of a people person to begin with yet it's clear that she needs more than her beloved bees for company.

Upon leaving her regular job due to being overlooked for a promotion yet again, Alice decides to focus on protecting the declining bee population not only of her Oregon small town but numerous other states as well from SupraGro, a pesticide that is doing such damage to nature.

With the help of Jake and Harry, Alice hopes to find true purpose in her life but the key to solving that problem may be closer at hand than she thinks. This sounds like a good heartwarming story that we all need right now which is not cloying sweet, more like a down to earth flavor that showcases the fragile yet resilient nature of life and love(April):

 

COZY COMFORT MYSTERY DISHES:

 

Author Abby Collette gives us a second scoop of her Ice Cream Parlor mystery series with A Game of Cones that has  Bronwyn "Win" Crewse solving a murder right along side creating new ice cream flavors for customers old and new at her family run ice cream shop. 

Attending her first meeting of local business owners, a ruckus occurs when Zeke Reynolds, spokesman for a Texas based corporation, announces his company's plans to open up a shopping mall in their area. That proposal does not go over well with anyone, even causing one of Win's good friends, Riya, to throw a shoe at Zeke in response!

That furious outcome gets worse as Zeke is found dead the next day, making just about every store owner a suspect in his untimely demise. Win teams up with Riya and Maisie, her murder mystery show obsessed friend, to find the killer but another new arrival in town offers Win a chance to reclaim her past life back in New York. Will she go back to that fast paced world or stay with her small town shop with a side dish of crime solving?

I did enjoy the first entry in this series(A Deadly Inside Scoop) and have been looking forward to this next book with the anticipation that one has for a special new brand of frosty goodness during a warm summer's day(March). 

Meanwhile, there's another delicious new entree on Vivien Chien's cozy mystery menu on the way with Fatal Fried Rice. 

While Lana Lee is great at managing her family's restaurant, her own cooking skills wouldn't pay the bills if push came to shove. To stop family and friends from mocking her lack of culinary arts, she decides to take a cooking class in secret, planning to surprise everyone with a great meal made by hand.

However, it's Lana who is surprised by discovering the dead body of her cooking teacher Margo Chan. In order to clear her name, Lana has to hide her private investigation from police detective boyfriend Adam but will this secret plan backfire as badly as the one that got her into this mess in the first place?

Although this series doesn't include recipes, I do consider it a culinary cozy with strong retail vibes(which I do relate to). Even if Lana doesn't have any kitchen challenges ahead of her in the next book(Hot and Sour Suspects, due out this summer), her adventures always prove to be tasty experiences indeed(March):

VERY DIFFERENT BLASTS FROM THE PAST

 

Set in New York during the 80s, Astrid Sees All by Natalia Standiford  has it's two lead gal pals find themselves a reasonably affordable place to live, due to a boyfriend landing in jail for drug dealing, and the chance to figure out who they want to be .

Phoebe has always admired Carmen since their college days and her main motive for moving to NYC from Baltimore was to be her orbit. Carmen's party girl ways tend to leave Phoebe one step behind but upon the death of her father, she chooses to do more than keep up.

Calling herself Astrid, Phoebe turns herself into a fortune teller who uses movie tickets as her tarot cards, which allows her to stay within Carmen's social range. However, by dating one of her friend's boyfriends, that relationship becomes threatened, almost as threatened as the possibility of Phoebe being followed by a mysterious stranger.

Standiford is best known for her YA novels but I 'm sure that this change of shelf space will not turn off her regular readers; in fact, it may add some newcomers to her literary mix. Whether it be adults or teens, friendships are tricky to balance if someone has to be top dog instead of even steven and Standiford seems to know how well to keep those character plot point plates spinning in the air(April):

 

A new marriage comes with unexpected baggage in Peter Swanson's Every Vow You Break as Abigail is worried about keeping her bachelorette party fling a secret from her groom-to-be Bruce.

Trouble is, that intended one night stand Scottie insists on being a permanent part of her life to the point of demanding she call the wedding off.  Refusing that request, Abigail hopes that her honeymoon will be a well earned break from such stalker antics.

No such luck as Scottie shows up at the remote Maine island where she and Bruce are staying, turning what should be a romantic time in Abigail's life to one that may threaten the end of her time on earth.

Swanson does have a knack for creating tension filled dramas that can turn on a dime plot wise and this latest story ought to have it's share of page turning surprises indeed(March):

 

It may take a little more time for sunny skies to appear again but being patient does pay off eventually and having a good book on hand will help to make that time pass quickly. 

Plus, a good read is a great excuse for unplugging from the online world for a little while. Technology is a big part of our modern lives but taking a break from all of that is important for necessary emotional downloading and refreshing your spirit, which is also a big part of spring to boot:

Taking on an Ann Patchett Project

 

A few years ago, I gave myself the challenge of reading the complete works of Donna Tartt. Granted, that task was made easier due to Tartt having only three books(and the fourth will be well worth the wait) but it was a great reading experience indeed.

Well, I am going to take up a similar reading challenge up this year by launching my own Ann Patchett Project. Now, she has way more than three books but since I only have a trio of them on hand, this set number will have to do.

I decided to divide them by season and with winter hopefully almost over, this spring my first APP selection will be Bel Canto. Released in 2001, this story is set in a South American country whose embassy is taken hostage during a birthday party for a Japanese businessman named Mr. Hosokawa.

Disappointed that the president of the country did not attend, the hostage takers still stick to their demands while releasing several of the less prominent guests. The only female prisoner remaining is opera singer Roxane Coss, who was invited to entertain as Hosokawa is a huge fan of her vocal talents. 

During the prolonged siege, many emotional bonds are formed with Roxane's singing being a guiding light of support for those on either side of the conflict. As time goes on, will those newly made connections be enough to save them all?

I've heard much about Bel Canto but haven't read it(or seen the 2018 film version). My copy happens to be the ARC(Advance Readers Copy) that I saved from my bookselling days. The book has been highly praised over the years and added to many Best of lists yet it didn't feel like the right time to read for me. One theme that intrigues me here is the use of art,music in this instance, to help people going a difficult period of time together which is something that I think all of us can relate to right now:

This summer, I plan to pick up Commonwealth, which I did try to read but put aside for far too long. It's a generational story that hinges on a tell-all book that changes more than one life and reveal a few family secrets.

We start at a christening party in California, where family friend Bert sort of gate crashes the proceedings and decides to pursue his long hidden love for Beverly, mother of the baby being celebrated on that day. 

When Bert and Beverly do get married and move to Virginia, they bring together an assortment of  step siblings who reluctantly share a summer vacation together that leads to dire consequences.

The child whose christening day inadvertently set this chain of events off, Franny, grows up to fall in love with novelist Leo, who writes about her complicated family ties in a book that was popular enough to be made into a movie that Franny takes her aged father Fix to. A strange full circle to be sure.

Interestingly enough, Patchett doesn't think that Commonwealth would make a good film. Maybe because Bel Canto had a lot of mixed reviews when it was adapted or due to the slow yet steady style of the plot? Regardless, I think that it might be better suited to a cable/streaming mini-series which would allow for a more leisurely pace of story telling:

 

For the fall, The Dutch House will complete my literary circle here. I did manage to get a review copy before the pandemic was fully in place and to my regret, I just wasn't into reading it then(I also have unread library books on hand but hey, I may get to them yet!).

This novel is narrated by Danny Conroy, the son of the title house set in Philadelphia whose mother Elna left him and his older sister Maeve behind as the grandeur of the place truly overwhelmed her.

Oddly enough, Danny's stepmother Andrea was more in love with the house than any member of the Conroy family and was quick to push him and Maeve out into the streets once their father died. That doesn't end this story at all; rather it's beginning of something even more strange.

This tale of a love-hate relationship with a house and what it represents has a Howards End meets the Brothers Grimm vibe to it that makes me want to properly appreciate it. Also, Tom Hanks did the audiobook and you know something is good when it has the Hanks seal of approval there:

 

It’s not just the celebrity approval that makes me want to engage with Patchett’s work.  From what I have read of her, she does possess a nice turn of phrase and a talent for painting a richly detailed picture of her characters that can slowly draw you into their world.

Plus, Patchett loves books so much that she's the co-owner of a bookstore(Parnassus Books, which is still managing to stay afloat during our national health crisis). For an author to be so generous to her literary contemporaries that she's thrilled to promote their books just shows a generosity of spirit that I really want to support.

I might talk about these books once I'm done with them online and hopefully read more of her work after this, we shall see. In the meanwhile, it is good to have a small goal to get through these still rough times in front of us all:

Booking that special read as your Valentine's Day date

 

With Valentine's Day on the holiday horizon, love is most certainly in the air and with the success of Bridgerton on Netflix, romance reading is more firmly in the spotlight. I'm reading The Duke and I at the moment for a readathon and it's very engaging indeed

However, if you're not in the mood for a historically set love story, there are plenty of good contemporary romances around and I prefer the ones with a bit of a romcom energy to them. So, here are a trio of sweet suggestions for your heart shaped holiday reading:

Jasmine Guillory's latest, Party of Two,was one of my Christmas presents but I decided to save it for this particular weekend(although her books are great for any time of year!).  Our leading lady here is Olivia Monroe, who decides to leave her law firm in New York and head out to L.A. to start her own specialty legal practice. 

Upon arrival, she stops at the hotel bar and meets Max, a guy who shares her dislike of posturing behavior and delight in desserts. While he looks vaguely familiar, Olivia finds out later that Max is Senator Powell, a freshman in office with a keen interest in criminal justice reform.

Since they do have a lot in common, falling in love isn't that difficult but being put in the social media spotlight is. Things get trickier when a private story from Olivia's past comes into public view, which could jeopardize their relationship and careers. Can the two of them stay afloat in such murky waters or will they get off this particular love boat for good?

Guillory knows how to mix up a smartly sweet and sexy batch of storytelling goodness and I have no doubt that making my way through these tasty pages will have been worth the wait:

As a warm-up, I finished reading One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London this past weekend. This debut novel introduces us to Bea, a plus size fashion blogger with a solid online following and more than fair share of critics to boot.

Given her critique of the reality dating show Main Squeeze, Bea is truly surprised to be asked to be the next contestant. With the series having trouble in the ratings(along with the recent dismissal of the former producer engaged in controversial behavior), the new producer Lauren wants to take the show in a fresh new direction and Bea gives them the perfect opportunity to do so.

Bea nervously accepts, wanting a change in her life as well yet she's not just anxious about how the twenty five men competing for her hand in marriage will react to someone her size. She's still getting over a potential romance with a former co-worker who was happy enough to string her along but decided to marry someone else.

As she gets to know the guys(several of whom are jerks) Bea can't let go of her doubts even when men like Sam, a bit younger than her but full of upbeat charms or Luc, a very sexy French chef or even Asher, a sensitive soul who is willing to be a straight shooter when needed, give her sincere affection.

During the course of the show's taping, things come to light about many of the men and Bea as well, making this reality roller coaster ride hard to handle in more ways than one. Will Bea find her true love on TV or is this an emotional mini-series destined to be canceled?

This was  a real hard-to-put-down read for me; as Stayman-London taps right into the emotional discomfort that plus size women(myself included) feel about life and love. I also appreciate the depth given to many of the characters here, even with the reality show framework, and found myself rooting for many of them to have great stories to come well after this one ends for them.

It may be corny to say but Kate Stayman-London is a one to watch author and her next step into the literary limelight should be something wonderful to see:

Before I got to One to Watch, my ebook library holds granted me the chance to dive into Sophie Kinsella's Love Your Life, which had me even falling in love with the troublesome yet adorable dog Harold(and I'm a cat person) here!

To get back a bit, Ava is tired of being a copywriter and decides to attend a writers retreat in Italy , where everyone has agreed to not talk about their past and to call each other by self chosen names.

Ava winds up being more focused on Dutch, a last minute participant (he signed up for a martial arts class that was unexpectedly canceled). The two of them seem to be instant soul mates and plan on continuing their love fest once they go home.

However, real life changes everything. Dutch happens to be Matt, who runs the family dollhouse empire and while successful, is not happy at his job. He’s also uncomfortable around Ava’s rescue furniture and her wish to get him to turn vegan. Meanwhile, Ava is less than thrilled with Matt’s taste in artwork or his insistence that her beloved Harold needs dog training.

As each of them try to adapt to the other’s way of life, it becomes harder to hold on to what they had in Italy. Would a break-up be the worst option here or could it lead to a new chance at romance?

Sophie Kinsella has a great knack for writing one-off novels as well as series(her Shopaholic books are what got me into her work) and while LYL is clearly meant to be the former, I wouldn't mind a follow-up. The characters are great to hang with, especially both sets of Ava and Matt's friends, and the chemistry between the leads does explain why they still persist on making this relationship with it's Odd Couple energy work out for both of them.

Kinsella creates a real yet charming world for all involved and shows that starting over is just as important as starting anew, both in life and in true love:

I hope these suggestions help with your holiday reading and whatever you chose to enjoy Valentine's Day with, do take the time to have a little fun.

Personally, I think books make for excellent Valentine's Day gifts as they're easy to wrap, come in many delightful colors and textures with the bonus of tending to last far beyond the day in question. Plus, picking the perfect read for yourself or someone special is always a true act of love:

My Series-ous Reading salutes the State of the Onion

 While this new year has certainly given us a plateful of surprises, my new round of Series-ous Reading has been quite a comfort zone in comparison. This year's theme is Culinary Cozy Feast and our starter is a new(to me) series set in Washington D.C. at the White House kitchen.

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy is the first in her set of White House Chef mysteries starring Olivia "Ollie" Paras. Ollie is a sous chef hoping to be promoted to the executive position upon the retirement of beloved mentor Henry.

 While she certainly has the skills for the job, there are a couple of obstacles in her way, starting with Laurel Ann Braun, a celebrity chef eager to add the White House spot to her brand, plus she has no chill when it comes to Ollie's talents.

The other difficulty is newly appointed "sensitivity director" Peter  Everett Sargeant, who is about as sensitive as a Mack truck when it comes to dealing with the WH culinary crew. He takes an instant dislike to Olivia and makes no secret about his preference for Laurel Ann as the next executive chef.

 Plus, a major league state dinner is being planned for two Middle Eastern countries about to sign a treaty that could change the game in terms of world peace and Sargeant is not making those plans go as smoothly as they should. His consistent meddling in the process and attempts at micromanaging with the representatives of the nations in question visiting the kitchen are hindrances in more ways than one:

Those challenges are pretty standard for most chefs but when Ollie finds herself taking down a potential threat to WH security one morning by using a frying pan to stop a fleeing intruder, her difficulties go quickly above her pay grade.

As it turns out, the man trying to gain access to the new President is Naveen, a former intelligence insider who wanted to give him a warning about a possible assassination plot planned by the Chameleon, a notorious hit man who may be targeting the upcoming treaty signing.  

Despite being asked by her Secret Service boyfriend Tom to not look into the matter, Olivia is concerned about any potential threat to the WH and the nation so she agrees to meet Naveen, who feels that the security agents have been compromised and only trusts her with the information that could prevent a major disaster.

Unfortunately, the Chameleon also shows up and gets between Olivia and Naveen permanently. As her personal safety and job security are both at risk, Ollie realizes that the best bet for saving the day on each of these fronts is herself:

This was a slight change of pace for me, with the semi-spy game action and dash of international intrigue, yet it didn't distract from the inside the WH kitchen plot points at all and wasn't openly political(the US president in this book is fictional, in a Harrison Ford kind of way) which works well for an ongoing series like this.

 Also, I really liked Olivia(who deserves a better boyfriend as Tom is a tad of a jerk at times) and her dedication to her work as a chef. Seeing what working at the WH kitchen is like is a solid part of the narrative and here's hoping that retiring head chef Henry shows up in some of the other books as well.

 Not that Ollie can't handle herself behind the stove but getting a few words of wisdom every now and then,particularly in dealing with that creep Sargeant(who is apparently going to be a regular workplace nemesis) from her former boss will be good to see.

So I will be reading more of these books, which have awesomely amusing pun titles such as Hail to the Chef, Buffalo West Wing and Affairs of Steak. Yes, White House menus and recipes are included in the end section and ought to be entertaining for those looking for fun foodie ideas. I do suggest avoiding appetizers involving cucumber cups, a menu item that kept being taken on and off the big state dinner plans for this tasty first fictional course:

For our next Culinary Cozy Feast offering, a cheese platter is being brought forward by Avery Aames to give us a taste of The Long Quiche Goodbye.

This introduction to the Cheese Shop Mystery books has Charlotte, along with her cousin Matthew, taking over the family fromagerie to update the shop into a cheese and wine must-stop for the ever growing tourist trade in their small Ohio town.

Trouble comes when their disagreeable landlord is found dead with one of the shop's knives sticking out of his chest not too far from their business. As Charlotte's beloved grandmother is seen as the main suspect, Charlotte has no choice but to clear the family name with a little help from a new friend.

This does sound like a mystery worth nibbling on, with a nice piece of cheddar and a plate of crackers on hand for page turning fun:

Tuning into a new year with Northanger Abbey

 

The start of this new year has been surprising to say the least. Fortunately, I have a good literary companion for this blend of chaos and clarity in Northanger Abbey.

Yes, I am still rereading Jane Austen's Classic Six and this next to last of her completed works offers a lot of refreshing moments with young Catherine Morland whose first visit to Bath showcases her unique brand of wide eyed innocence with unintentional insights into social norms.

At this point in my reading, Catherine is preparing to stay at the title residence with her new friends,the Tilneys and eager to see how spooky this remote country estate is. Being a fan of Gothic novels, Cathy has quite the expectations of a sinister looking castle with hidden rooms and secrets to be uncovered.

Thinking on a modern day version of this story(Val McDermid has written a good one,btw), I do think that Cathy would be a huge mystery reader as well as into paranormal romance books. After all, she does become rather interested in how the former Mrs. Tilney passed away, even getting her new friend and daughter of the household Eleanor to engage in a bit of sleuthing there:

While that mystery comes to it's own conclusion, you would have to consider what pop culture influences a present day Cathy Morland has and it wouldn't just books. What shows would she be watching on either regular TV or streaming?

Granted, most of the shows Cathy would like probably would be book based and an obvious choice is the current CW rendition of Nancy Drew. This series has it's lead girl detective in her post-high school years, with a "Drew Crew" that includes ex-boyfriend Nick, former high school rival George and new to small town life Bess.

Much like Riverdale, the show has a much darker take on it's iconic young adult sleuth with family secrets revealed, class struggles on display and a touch of the supernatural. No doubt that the Catherine of our times would relish this show and devour it(along with tie-in titles) gleefully:

Speaking of Riverdale and the supernatural, I'm pretty sure that Cathy would have some streaming access back home and checking out The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix.

Unlike the sitcom cute 90's show, this Sabrina Spellman takes on the forces of darkness directly, such as her obnoxious principal Hawthorne,  possessed teacher Mary Wardell who intends to groom her for evil and various witchcraft inclined peers clamoring for power positions with Lucifer himself.

Of course, Sabrina has the support of her aunts Hilda and Zelda, not to mention a certain feline guide to the spirit realm. High school and horror with a dash of morbid humor certainly would be catnip for our Ms. Morland indeed:

Yet, the question remains; what series of books and shows would Kathy's other new friend Isabella Thorpe introduce to her? I suspect that A Discovery of Witches, which is available on cable and streaming, might be their version of The Mysteries of Udolpho.

This series, based on the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness, has historian and reluctant witch Diana Bishop finding herself caught up in a quest for a long lost magical manuscript.

With the aid of Matthew Clairmont, a vampire seeking the knowledge from the book to protect all nonhuman beings from destruction, Diana taps further into her suppressed abilities and learns more about her own powers, not to mention those who fear her awakened potential.

I can easily picture Cathy and Isabella watching this show together on their IPhones, reading the books just far enough to not get spoiled for future plot points. With season two involving time travel to the Elizabethan era, these girls would be in Hot Topic heaven:

The moral of sorts that many people take from Northanger Abbey is to not get too carried away with your reading material when it comes to real life, yet I really don't think it's about anti-genre reading. Instead, I believe it's about being a more thoughtful person and learning to read people as well as any book.

Still, it would be fun to have a Cathy Morland, Girl Detective series either in print or online. A less intense take on Veronica Mars, if you will(I do like that show, which was canceled way too soon). Hopefully, if that ever comes to pass, this Modern Ms. Morland should be a more savvy investigator than her Austen inspired incarnation turns out to be:

 

Spending some page turning time with the Tudors

 

Even before the horrifying events of last Wednesday, I was already having the urge to read some historical fiction with a Tudor theme. Mainly Henry VIII,whose royal misdeeds have certainly made quite the mark on history.

When talking about novels featuring the Tudors, Philippa Gregory is always reliable to provide in that regard. Three Sisters, Three Queens features Catherine of Aragon and her sister in law, Mary but the main focus here is on Margaret, who become the Queen of Scotland but still never got over her deep rooted envy of her brother's celebrated wife.

Upon the death of her husband James(killed during a rebellion that Catherine had to command English forces against during Henry's absence), Margaret was made Queen Regent and planned to guide her young son to the throne of both Scotland and England since a male heir to that kingdom had not been produced.

Unfortunately for her, Margaret fell in love with a Scottish nobleman  and secretly married him, breaking what little peace there was among the ruling clans of the country. Having to flee in the dead of night without her children, she sought protection from her brother but even the pledged united front promised by him and Catherine can not keep Margaret from indulging in her impulses for instant gratification and power.

This is a book that I meant to read long ago but the time felt right recently, due to the final season of The Spanish Princess on Starz. A good portion of Margaret's story was well woven into the plot, showcasing the powerhouse personality that she was. While it would've been great to have Three Sisters, Three Queens be a miniseries on it's own, I am glad that some of this engaging book found it's place here:

As it happens, one of my Christmas gifts this year was part of Alison Weir's Six Tudor Queen series of novels.

 Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait gives the storytelling spotlight to Henry's fourth wife, a woman often overlooked by history. While her regal husband was allegedly disappointed in seeing the actual Anna over the painting version of her, she was someone with secrets of her own to keep and some of those were perhaps romantic in nature.

Even after her divorce from Henry, she was still caught up in the intrigues of the court and accused of making alliances against heiress to the throne Mary Tudor by favoring her younger sister Elizabeth. Nevertheless, she persisted in staying as much above the fray as possible.

While I'm still in the midst of the Catherine of Aragon novel in this series(yes, I did read the Anne Boleyn book first!), I am most keen to meet her Majesty of Kleve and share a literary song and dance with her indeed:

Meanwhile, I decided to treat myself to the next in line entry by Weir, Katheryn Howard: The Scandalous Princess.

Katheryn was the next to last wife who sadly shared the fate of wife number two. She was very young and carefree, set up by her ambitious relatives into this doomed marriage, hoping that she could give the aging king that male heir so desperately longed for.

Unlike her previous sister wives, Katheryn had no political savoy and pretty much threw caution to the wind in the love department. What she really loved about being Henry's queen was all of the perks that came with it(sort of a medieval mall chick if you will).

Granted, she wasn't very clever yet that did not mean that Katheryn deserved the tragic ending that she received. The fact that she really had no ill intent makes her demise all the more pitiful, if you ask me:

I also have the Jane Seymour book in this series and planning to do a reread of Philippa Gregory's The Boleyn Inheritance(which features both Anna of Kleve and Katherine Howard) at some point. The final book in Weir's Six Tudor Queens saga(Katherine Parr,aka She Who Survived) will be out later this year.

But why the Tudors now, you may ask? Well, for some reason, reading about a overly privileged ruler of a country who had multiple wives and a growing sense of paranoia just feels really relevant to our times as of now. To be fair, Henry VIII was far better educated and more charming than any modern day counterpart of his could ever hope to be.

To get a little real world here, what happened last Wednesday was history making in the absolutely worst sense of the term. Such an act of treason can not and should not abide. While it may take far too much time, I do believe that consequences will be handed out and that we will unite as one nation to make things right. However, justice must be served first.

Even reading fictional accounts of the Tudors show us the need for keeping those in power in check. Yes, it was a much different time period with a very different system of rule yet we are supposed to learn from the mistakes of the past.

While the terrors of the Tudor dynasty did lead to Elizabeth I and her amazing achievements, she was the last of that line. Perhaps that was for the best but if someone had done something other than the expected, who knows if the Tudors could have improved as leaders over time and continued?

I am no historian, just a reader of historical fiction. However, I do appreciate a good story and the Tudors certainly gave us that. I highly doubt the same will be said for those currently trying to undermine our democracy today. Hopefully, we will be spared the horror of a musical version of their high crimes-Henry VIII and the women in his life are far more engaging in that regard:

The end of one year of Series-ous Reading and the dawning of a Cozy Culinary Feast for the new year

 

Happy New Year,everyone and glad to be back here with more great books to talk about. I'm especially happy to announce another year of Series-ous Reading, in which books in a series(mostly mystery) are highlighted.

Before I get into the theme for this year, let's look at the last title of last year from Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton detective series, Murder in the Afternoon.  Set in post WWI England, Kate is a former military nurse and widow, who still holds out hope that her MIA husband may yet be alive.

She's settled into a life that allows her to pursue her love of photography and now with the help of a former policeman, Jim Sykes, Kate also does some detective work that mainly focuses on missing persons.

Getting a knock on her door in the early hours is becoming commonplace but when she opens up to find Mary Jane Armstrong, who is in need of someone to find her missing husband Ethan, what shocks Kate the most is being told that Mary Jane is her sister.

Kate has known for years about being adopted from her parents yet unaware of who her biological family was or that they knew anything about her. Despite her surprise, she is willing to do what she can here and perhaps learn something about her own past.

 Mary Jane is desperate to find Ethan, who was last seen at his stone mason work by his children. Harriet, the oldest child, discovered what appeared to be his dead body but by the time she was able to get an adult to help, Ethan and his tool kit had completely disappeared. Those in authority are quick to claim that Harriet is making up stories ,however, her version of events doesn't waver.

She's not the only young girl being overlooked when it comes to telling the truth. During the investigation, Sykes comes across a child servant named Millie who works at the farm of Bob Conroy, Ethan's best friend, and may know much more about what's going on than she's given credit or intelligence for:

With Ethan being involving in union organizing and Mary Jane having an unusual connection with her former employers(who happen to be the local lord and lady of the manor), the list of suspects is getting longer by the minute.

When another mysterious death occurs and Mary Jane's freedom is threatened, Kate's determination to find the truth becomes firmly set in stone. Not only is Mary Jane's fate in jeopardy, the future of her new found niece and nephew are on the line as well.

I've read several of the Kate Shackleton books at this point and Brody's sturdy yet delicate portrayal of characters caught up in their own chain of events and hard to take back actions is lovely to behold. The added addition of personal stakes to this story make leading lady Kate all the more vivid as a person in her own right, not to mention a most thoughtful detective to boot.

Kate's continuing hopes about her husband Gerald possibly being alive are sadly compelling yet showcase the humanity of the character in a tenderly done fashion. Having not read all of the books(or read them entirely in order), I don't know when or if this dynamic changes but it does make Kate truly a wonder of a woman in that regard and one I do want to follow on her next adventure:

For this new year of Series-ous Reading, our theme is Cozy Culinary Feast and that means plenty of food related mysteries in the cozy section of the fictional pantry. 

Many of the authors selected for this mystery menu are well known favorites such as Joanne Fluke and Diane Mott Davidson but I have a few fresh faces to add to the list.

To start, my first literary course will be State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy, which begins her White House Chef mystery series. An up and coming chef, Olivia "Ollie" Paras has enough on her plate as it is without taking down a potential threat to the Commander in Chief with a frying pan.

Despite her more pressing problems of competing for an open top spot in the White House kitchen staff and dealing with an obnoxious celebrity chef, Ollie finds herself doing some side work as a sleuth, which also threatens her romance with a Secret Service agent as well as the free world. Can she save the day and a state dinner in time?

Since we are thankfully heading into a brand new administration in Washington(despite what some might wish to think), I thought this particular series would be fun to explore. Don't worry, not planning on getting political here but a fictional foodie look at the White House might actually be worth checking out:

Bringing in the new year with some brand new books

 

The end of 2020 is almost here and never have I ever seen a year that so many people are eager to be rid of as soon as can be.

The reasons for that are good and rather plentiful, yet one of the things that sustained during this horrible time were books. Fortunately, we have more great reads ahead of us, starting with January/February of 2021.

We are,after all, still going to be spending some time indoors, due to the chilly weather and sadly still ongoing health crisis, so perhaps one or two of these upcoming titles will go nicely with a warm mug of tea this season:

A STORY OF MAGIC AND ICE:

Greta Kelly's debut novel, The Frozen Crown, is the first half of a story featuring a warrior princess dealing with royal politics and hidden powers and from what I've read of this book so far, a sequel is most desirable indeed.

Askia has been battling the invading forces of the Rovan Empire in order to claim her rightful throne but to no avail. With very limited options left, she crosses the sea to visit an emissary of the Emperor Amiaan of Vishir to ask for assistance.

However, the reception she gets is rather chilly, requiring Askia to play the polite game of court intrigue instead of the direct approach that she's more comfortable. What's truly treacherous is the need to conceal the magical gift that she was born with as such powers are rare in this reality.

Askia is willing to do what she must to save her people but when a possibility of romance is thrown into the mix, how much is she willing to sacrifice for the good of all?   Kelly really seems to have caught some story telling lightning in a literary jar and opening it up is part of the page turning fun(January):

 

JANE AUSTEN REVISITED:

I fondly recall the engaging portrait of Charlotte Lucas Collins that Molly Greeley gave us in  2019's The Clergyman's Wife and now the author takes another look at a well known yet seldom heard from character in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.

The Heiress focuses on Anne De Burgh, the sickly and mostly silent daughter of the intimidating Lady Catherine De Burgh. While her mother has made plans for her whole entire life, Anne begins to wonder if her health problems are part of that plan as well.

Deciding to make a change, Anne goes to London to stay with her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and discovers that she's not as helpless as she and others believed her to be. This sets the stage for many new avenues to explore, one of which may lead to a most unexpected happiness, if only her mother would not block her way.

Taking a new look at a character that has been easily dismissed before is not as easy as it sounds but knowing how wonderfully well Greeley did this in her first novel makes me most delighted to take this book up as soon as may be(January):

 
 

A modern day setting is part of the framework for debut author Lauren Edmondson's Ladies of the House, which places Austen's Sense and Sensibility heroines in Washington ,DC.

Daisy is dealing with the aftermath of her father, Senator Gregory Richardson, as best she can, not only for her mother and younger sister Wallis but her own political career goals as well.

However, her father left a bit of scandal behind and while Daisy struggles to keep his legacy as respectable as possible, matters are made worse when an old friend arrives in town to do a major feature on the late senator. In addition to that, Wallis gets romantically involved with Blake, a politician who is on the other side of the aisle in more ways than one.

Seeking peace with their father's past and hoping to make a better future for themselves, Daisy and Wallis do clash yet can each of them handle their present with a combination of head and heart? This sounds like a great way to examine Austen's themes while bringing  a pair of classic sisterly characters to modern life in the best way possible for readers old and new(February). 

TURNING PAGES BACK INTO THE PAST:

 

Kristin Hannah's upcoming novel, The Four Winds, has us revisit the Great Depression through the eyes of Elsa Martinelli, who is still determined to keep her husband's family farm going.

When abandoned by her spouse, Elsa finds that her best bet to keep her children thriving is to leave their Texas home and head to California, where work is said to be plentiful.

Once she and her kids settle down in the town of Welty, they are treated with scorn and given low wages for picking cotton. As her salary gets smaller and times being tougher, Elsa finds herself at a crossroads as to whether or not fighting for her rights will be worth the trouble.

Hannah does have a solid connection to people from the past and the best of her work showcases that beautifully. No doubt that this book will be another fine example of her heartfelt handiwork(February):

 

In Better Luck Next Time , Julia Claiborne Johnson introduces us to Wade, who has fond memories of his time working at a resident cowboy at the Flying Leap Dude Ranch, which wasn't involved in cattle drives.

The Flying Leap was a temporary residence for women seeking divorce in Reno during the 1920s(you had to live within the state for at least six weeks in order to get a quick divorce) and Wade was meant to be a guide on the local trails as well as a dance partner for the ladies.

Some of his best times back then were with Emily, a soft spoken woman whose daughter Portia shows up unannounced and Nina, a tough talking pilot who takes Portia under her wing. While Wade doesn't wind up with any of them in the long run, he has great tales to tell of their wild times to last him the rest of his life.

This story has the flair of an old school film with snappy dialogue and engaging characters full of lively wit, which should be a good time had by all here(January):

 

Well, here's to the promise of a much better new year and much wicked pleasure in sending this horrid old one packing! I do believe that 2021 will eventually brings us towards a brighter tomorrow, so we must be patient and cautious as the mess of 2020 is cleared away.

I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year's Eve celebration with a special song that I think sums up our collective feelings about this event devilishly well:

 

Keeping my Christmas Spirit readathon page turning bright

 

As we get closer to a certain date in December, it feels like the perfect time to do a check-in on my progress with the Christmas Spirit readathon(hosted by Michelle Miller at Seasons of Reading).

With the CR readathon being much longer this year, that gives me the gift of time to get in many more books than usual here. I first treated myself to a reread of Christmas Shopaholic, the most recent installment in Sophie Kinsella's entertaining series featuring Becky Bloomwood.

Becky is used to having her parents hold the major holiday celebrations but this year, her folks have announced that they're moving to the trendy neighborhood of Shoreditch, tapping their daughter for the dubious honor of hosting Christmas.

Since she does love to shop and arrange things, Becky is willing to give it a try. However, she is quickly overwhelmed by the need to make everyone around happy for the holidays. To make things even more complicated, Becky is determined to get her husband Luke the perfect present and is willing to join an all-male billiards club in order to do so.

Also on her plate is a growing feud between her mother and her mother's best friend, the reappearance of a former boyfriend turned musician with his overly ambitious girlfriend in tow and worrying about Jess, her environmentally inclined half sister who may or not be having martial troubles. Oh, and dealing with the fall out of a made up Swedish holiday along with hunting down a popular tree ornament and trying to store a bigger than expected order of smoked salmon on her front lawn.

I've read all the books in this series and Becky is pretty much an old friend, fun to drop in as she does her best to make things work for all concerned. I do love British humor and these books have a sweet blend of Absolutely Fabulous(a much nicer version) and Mr. Bean style antics that make Becky and company a delight to visit more than once:

For a fresh read, I chose one of Livia J. Washburn's Freshly Baked Mysteries, The Christmas Cookie Killer and this cozy culinary mystery did sate some of my seasonal appetite indeed.

Our leading lady is Phyllis, a retired schoolteacher and widow, who shares her home with a set of roommates including a widower named Sam. During the annual Christmas Cookie Exchange, Phyllis looks on her next door neighbor Agnes with a plate of her special lime sugar snowflake cookies, which are greatly appreciated so much so that Agnes asks to borrow her cookie cutters.

By the time that she returns, Agnes is dead on the floor, the victim of an attack that also has Phyllis receive a bump on her head for her troubles by the fleeing killer. While the police wind up arresting Randall, Agnes' grandson who has been hiding out in her attic due to legal issues, Phyllis is not completely convinced that he actually did commit the crime.

With the backup of Sam,plus a little information from her police officer son Mike, Phyllis sets out to see if someone closer to home have a reason to do Agnes in. While she does uncover some surprising secrets and lies among her nearest neighbors, that still doesn't help her narrow down her list of possible suspects. Can she find the true killer before the notion of Randall's guilt is fully baked in the eyes of the law?

This is my first time with this series and I do like the Golden Girls vibe of Phyllis and her live-in friends(even though the setting of the story is in the small town of Weatherford,Texas rather than Miami). More importantly, it's the feeling of warmth and family that binds many of the characters together within the plot,especially while sharing cooking time in the kitchen that has me wanting to taste more of this homemade story sweetness:

Also, I have a last minute addition,thanks to an ebook library loan, of The Diva Cooks a Goose by Krista Davis. I had so much fun with the first book in Davis' Domestic Diva series(set during Thanksgiving) that I skipped ahead to Christmas here.

Sophie Winston is the title diva and in this holiday caper, she has plenty of mysteries on her serving platter to handle. Who robbed an entire neighborhood of presents on Christmas Eve? Who left a basket containing two adorable kittens on Sophie's back step? Most important of all, who set a deadly trap in a music box for another potential domestic diva to unwittingly open?

That last victim was Bonnie, a local home organizer who was trying to break up a possible engagement between her son Beau and Shawna, one of Sophie's in laws, while also breaking up the marriage of Shawna's parents to boot! While the case becomes more tangled than a box of tree lights, Sophie balances her holiday fears and holiday cheers well enough to save the season.

I really appreciate how easy it is to get into the story lines and character history, not to much the not so friendly rivalry between Sophie and Nastasha, a Martha Stewart type of celebrity diva who is also dating Sophie's ex-husband Mars. Gives me Rory Gilmore/Paris Geller flashbacks of the fun kind.

I do plan to dive into this diva-licious series in the new year and hope that more books are coming our way, regardless of what time of year it is:

The Christmas Spirit readathon runs until January 6th, giving me room to add yet another ebook library loan(Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier) as well as pick up a physical copy of A Catered Christmas Cookie Exchange by Isis Crawford. I hope to finish the latter by next week, in for A Catered New Year's Eve there.

In the meanwhile, happy holidays to all and special thanks to Michelle Miller for keeping us going strong during this most trying year with good reading. I hope everyone taking part in the CS readathon is having a great time and that we all stay safe and stay home for the holidays.

Yes, it's not ideal but totally necessary to make sure that we can all be together for many more  celebrations around this time in 2021 and be able to attend next year's end of year parties to toast the better days to come. Being as safe and healthy as we can until our ongoing health crisis is halted is the best gift to give to each other.

 Normally, I put up a Christmas music video post during this week but instead, here's a postmodern twist on a modern day classic that should set the mood just right. I'll see you folks before the year is out and hope that you do get what you want for Christmas, one way or the other:

A Jane Austen birthday and a P&P anniversary all in one

 

It should be a truth universally acknowledged that when the birthday of a beloved author happens to coincide with the anniversary of an adaptation of one of her most popular works, both occasions must be combined for a true celebration.

As this year marks the 245th birthday of Jane Austen as well as the fifteenth anniversary of the most recent big screen version of Pride & Prejudice, I decided to treat myself to a rewatch of the 2005 film. After all, I am in the midst of a reread of the book, so seeing this movie again felt like I was completing a full circle.

While I do find the 1995 BBC miniseries to be the best book-to-screen version of this novel, there are some merits to this cinematic rendition. Granted, it doesn't have everything that a Jane Austen reader would want yet there is something to be said for what the film does have in abundance.

For one, Keira Knightley gives an excellant performance as Elizabeth Bennet(frankly, I never understood the objections to her being cast in this role). 

She not only connects well with her sisterly co-stars(particularly Rosemund Pike as Jane Bennet, a far cry from her future Gone Girl leading lady) and other talented stars such as Dame Judi Dench's Lady Catherine, Brenda Blethyn as a delightfully ditzy Mrs. Bennet and Donald Sutherland as a laid back Mr. Bennet, Knightley fully embodies the energy and lively spirit of the character.

Even in a scene with the dutifully dull Mr. Collins, who admires the boiled potatoes at dinner with about as much zeal as he does the marriageable merits of the Bennet girls to become his wife, Knightley's Elizabeth shares a bit of dialogue with her father that subtly mocks their obnoxious guest without missing a beat. It's smoothly done without her drawing too much attention to herself but she does sparkle in that moment nonetheless:

 

Knightley also has great chemistry with her major co-star, Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy. The two of them create enough romantic tension to cause the air around them to crackle with emotional electricity(maybe that's why Darcy flexs his hand so much here!).

Macfadyen's take on Darcy is decidedly moody,which I'll get into in a moment, yet he is more than capable of bringing the right amount of intensity when needed.

Both of these actors were at the time following in the footsteps of legendary stars such as Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier ,David Rintoul and Elizabeth Garvie, not to mention the iconic Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. Taking on such roles is not easy for any actor, especially if there is a fan base already out to judge you beforehand.

However, this onscreen duo give their audience a set of striking performances that is well chorographed as any Regency ball dance arrangement:

 

This is a very visual movie, as director Joe Wright displays his full powers behind the camera with beautifully vivid scenes that highlight just how crowded the Netherfield and Meryton balls were, along with Elizabeth's inner turmoil upon reading Darcy's letter and later her joyof the outdoors with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner.

Such choices were made to attract a younger generation, which is not a wholy bad notion. In order to keep a classic alive, new admirers must be  shown that these stories can fit well into their lives and while some shortcuts were taken to achieve that, the overall themes of the story are still intact.

Yes, some of those scenes do have a touch of Bronte rather than Austen at times. To some, Darcy is too withdrawn and more like Heathcliff on the moors towards the end. I find that influence to be only a touch at best and besides, given that Jane Austen did enjoy a Gothic romance or two in her day, she might actually find this approach amusing. 

Also, that early morning arrival of Darcy in the mist is rather gorgeous and one that I would not give up viewing more than once:

So, does this version of Pride & Prejudice hold up well, fifteen years later? My answer is yes and particularly for those who find such period dramas to be "British comas"(as my younger sister often calls my favorite genre), this may change a few hearts and minds.

With that, I wish Our Dear Jane a very happy birthday and a happy anniversary to 2005's P&P adaptation. Even though it may not please everyone, pictures of perfection can make one sick of seeing them and we never want that to happen to Elizabeth and Darcy!

The best thing about any adaptation is that it encourages people to take up the original book and walk into a special realm of delights. In this case, that goal was completely achieved:

My Second Act of Series-ous Reading wins A Medal for Murder

 During this whole bizarre year, I have managed to keep to this Series-ous Reading schedule as well as stick to my secondary challenge of Second Acts, highlighting the number two title of certain bookish series.

Well, as they say, the best was saved for last with A Medal for Murder by Frances Brody, that set the pace for her lady detective Kate Shackleton. Kate is a widowed photographer in post-WWI England(she does hold on to some hope that her MIA husband is still alive) who has taken up sleuthing, with an ex-policeman Jim Sykes as her assistant.

While she specializes in missing persons, Kate does help out in other matters such as a pawnshop robbery where the owner wishes to discretely inform his clients about their items being taken. Since one of the parties involved happens to be in Harrogate, where Kate already had made plans to visit an old friend, she agrees to help out.

Upon arrival, her friend Meriel is delighted to take Kate to the opening night of her latest theatrical production , a play starring several local young people such as the lovely Lucy Wolfendale, who hopes to make this leading lady role a stepping stone towards bigger and better things.

During the show, an obnoxious business owner Lawrence Milner(whose son Rodney is also part of the cast) is in the audience and not shy about making his unseemly, not to mention unwelcome, intentions towards Lucy known. However, after the play, the elder Milner is found dead with a knife in his heart not far from the theater and Lucy is nowhere to be found.

 Along with being a witness to the body's discovery, Kate is further drawn into this strange situation by Lucy's grandfather and guardian, Captain Wolfendale, who is sent a ransom note for his granddaughter's safe return:

As it turns out, Lucy is faking her own kidnapping in order to get her grandfather to give her the inheritance that was promised to her long ago. With the help of Dylan, another young man in the show, she's hiding out at a remote location but that plan is starting to backfire in the worst way.

Meanwhile, Kate's inquiries are revealing some unexpected secrets from Captain Wolfendale's past, which could affect more than one future and may or may not be connected to Milner's demise, as he was a man despised by all, even his own son.

As these points slowly yet steadily draw together, Kate not only has to find the killer and Lucy yet also make a serious decision about what truths need to be brought to light and which should remain in the dark. I really like the emotional/moral complexity that Kate has to grapple with here, as just who the murderer is and why is not an easy answer with plenty of right and wrong issues to be debated.

This story has a wonderful Agatha Christie flavor to it, steeped in a bittersweet brew that finds a way to provide true justice for all concerned. While I'm more of a Miss Marple person than a Poirot(and I suspect Kate Shackleton would be agree with me), this does put me in mind of a certain Christie tale that dealt with similar issues and Brody honors that legacy well in her own unique way:

Before I get into the last on this list for 2020, let's take a look at my Series-ous Reading plans for the new year.

The 2021 SR theme is going to be "A Cozy Culinary Feast", featuring authors such as Joanne Fluke(still have a lot of Hannah Swensen books to finish!), Diane Mott Davidson, Avery Aames and Livia J. Washburn.

 I will keep an open spot for any new authors in this category and hope that all of you out there enjoy tucking into these tasty reads along with me.

To round out this year, I'm reading the third Kate Shackleton mystery, Murder in the Afternoon, where Kate meets her birth sister(she was adopted) and is asked to look into the possible murder of her brother-in-law. So far, this is an intriguing case and Kate's niece Harriet, who sadly found her father's body which later went missing, is a right clever girl that both her aunt and I wish to known better:

The LRG Best Books of 2020 list

 

While this year has been one that most of us are eager to forget as soon as possible, it would be a shame to forget the many wonderful books that arrived in time to give us something else to focus on than the awful news headlines.

In making up my list of best books of 2020, I noticed that most of them were on the scary side, which really defines the overall mood of this whole year there.

Nonetheless, there was joy to be found even in the terror filled pages that I quickly turned and fortunately, I was not alone in enjoying these amazing reads during our national downtime:

OLD SCHOOL FEAR FEST:

 

I know that for some, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic is an introduction to this writer's beautifully rendered prose and her realms of supernatural elegance, yet for me, this book was destined to happen.

Having been recommended her works by others, watching Moreno-Garcia's writing taking so many next level steps has been enchanting. While praise for her prior novel,Gods of Jade and Shadow, gave her a literary spotlight, this homage to the Gothic genre has turned that wattage up considerably.

This particular novel has quite a classic heroine, Noemi Taboada, a 1950s socialite who is tasked to check in on her newly married cousin Catalina at the remote estate known as High Place.

 Upon meeting the Doyle family that her cousin has now joined, Noemi's sense of danger is switched on yet finding any sort of help for Catalina's declining condition, not to mention the toxic nature of the house itself, grows more futile and deadly with every action. However, she is not one to give up and give in but the price for that persistence could be rather costly indeed.

A blend of Hammer films and Daphne Du Maurier, Mexican Gothic is a rich concoction of  the old and new with a touch of heart:

As a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and True Blood, I was instantly drawn to The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, which satisfied my bookish blood thirst quite nicely.

The story is set between the later end of the 1980s into the early half of the nineties as true crime reader Patricia develops a sneaking suspicion that new neighbor James Harris is not just a charming good old boy. 

Instead, he's a blood drinking monster who intends to make their quiet little suburb his own nesting place and the other side of town his personal feeding grounds. Getting anyone, from her obnoxious husband to her best book club gal pals, to believe her is a challenge but one that Patricia feels she has to take on for the sake of the children.

Yet, as everyone around is determined to convince her otherwise, Patricia seems to give in yet she never really surrenders to the enemy in their midst. As time goes on, she gathers up enough allies to face down the threat from within but not without making a bit of a mess along the way. 

Hendrix doesn't just serve up nostalgia on a plate; he also adds humor, heart and the power of friendship to make this suburban sanguine meal simmer to page turning perfection:

JANE AUSTEN COUNTRY CLUB

 

I was very pleased to take part in the blog tour for Natalie Jenner's debut novel The Jane Austen Society and it's still a book that brings a smile to my face.

Set in post WWII, we are introduced to a delightful ensemble of character in the village of Chawton, where Jane Austen spend a good part of her writing time. At this point in time, this fact is known mainly to locals but with the passing of one of Austen's descendants, the fate of the author's home is in jeopardy of being cast aside for more modern concerns.

The title group is lead by Adam, a farmer still mourning the loss of his loved ones and with assistance from folks like Mimi, an American actress, Evie, a housemaid who has taken to cataloging all of the books within the Austen family library and Adeline, a widowed school teacher seeking a new life and love, band together to keep this literary legacy alive.

Yes, this will appeal mostly to the Austen initiated but I do believe that this lovingly told story of people using a common interest to get through the tough times can spread it's wings among the non-Austen readers. Perhaps it will inspire them to see what the fuss is all about(and they will not be disappointed!):

 

SOME WELCOME SINISTER SURPRISES:

 

Superhero novels are tricky to pull off but Natalie Zina Walschots knock this genre take out of the park with Hench, which could be seen as The Office meets The Legion of Doom(yes, I like my DC Comics along side Marvel!)

Our leading lady is Anna, who regularly picks up freelance work from agencies that specialize in hiring supervillian help. While her latest gig isn't the best, she gets more than she bargained for when a superhero gives her a major injury during the scene of a crime.

The financial toll on her life is bad enough yet what Anna really resents is the full on denial that this caped crusader casually gave her permanent damage with no consequences. Once she's able to work, Anna signs up to work for his arch nemesis and uses her intense data analysis skills to take down their now mutual enemy.

This book is a smart and savvy look at office politics, superhero tropes and seeing just far you're willing to go long to get along. Things are far from being simply good guys vs. bad guys here and I hope that more great stories like this hit bookshelves and comic book stands alike:

 While Hench was a debut, Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson is the latest in a long line of books from this author yet this was my first time reading his work. I doubt it will be my last

When bookseller Malcolm Kershaw is questioned by an investigator from the FBI about an old blog post, he finds it hard to take seriously.

 His list of mystery novels that are examples of the "perfect murder" is a mix of well known classics like Strangers on a Train and lesser known title such as The Drowner yet someone seems to be taking his reading suggestions more as guides to committing the ultimate crime without punishment.

As Malcolm gets deeper into this case, there are twists and turns that change more than one life forever. I refuse to say anything more about the plot because it is just that good to not spoil for future readers.

I honestly had one of those "stay up all night" experiences while reading this book and the sleep I did get was well earned. Swanson weaves a tangled tale that is worth following to the bitter end and if Hitchcock was around today, worthy of his cinematic touch:

 2020 has certainly been a bumpy ride yet thankfully we had plenty of great books to keep us company along the way. Granted, there is still a ways to go yet, however having a faithful companion of literature by our side will help get us through the last of this calendar year with hope for better things to come in 2021: