Category Archives: Currently Reading

Currently Reading week of November 21.

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With the holidays, I had less time than usual to read. Still, I managed to finish 2 books and part of a third.

Staging is Murder by Grace Topping is a charming cozy. The amateur detective is a home stager whose assistant is accused of the murder. A lovely old Victorian provided the setting – and don’t we all wish we lived in such a magnificent place. This is a series and I plan to read the rest of it.

I regularly read fantasy and science fiction. One of the suggestions that came up on my Amazon feed was The Witches of Dark Root by April Aasheim. Dark Root, a small town in the Pacific Northwest, is one of the last places on earth that keeps the darkness at bay. But now the circle had cracked. Sasha, coven leader, is ill. Her four daughters have scattered. running away from home and the control of their mother. But when news of Sasha’s illness reaches the daughters, they return; first Merry, the eldest, then Maggie, the daughter with the most power, and finally the other two. I really enjoyed this supernatural suspense novel. Since several problems remain to be resolved, I plan to read the rest of the series.

Finally, I am enjoying the latest David Rosenfelt: Best in Snow. When Andy Carpenter’s golden retriever digs up a pile of snow in the park, she discovers the body of the mayor. Andy’s friend Vince persuades him to take the case (Carpenter is a lawyer) and he becomes convinced the suspect the police have in custody has been set up. Rosenfelt’s mysteries are always fun. The characters are interesting and Carpenter is amusing. This one is also appropriate to the season since it is set just before Christmas.

Week of November 7 – 13

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I missed last week’s post since I was still reading Sherlock Holmes vs Cthulhu by Lois Gresh. This is one weird book, and I like weird. Still not sure how I feel about it.

Hemlock, by Susan Wittig Albert, is the newest in a long series of China Bayles Herbal mysteries. In it, China journeys to North Carolina to hunt for a rare and valuable herbal called the Curious Herbal by Elizabeth Blackwell. The information about hemlock, the poisonous herb, not the tree, and the book were historically accurate and fascinating. The mystery was a little disappointing but the rest of the book made up for it.

Murder at the Abbey, by Frances Evesham, is part of a series, although this was my first. A human bone was found in a river near a historical abbey. Is is the bone from the abbey graveyard? Or something worse. Libby, and her new husband, are on the case. A charming cozy.

Currently Reading

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This week I read two very different kind of books.

From Beer to Eternity, by Sherry Harris, is a cozy set I Florida. The main character, a transplant from Chicago, moves to the Emerald Coast temporarily, in accordance with a friend’s wishes. A number of strange events, including a murder, soon occur.

Not a whodunit, since the murderer is detected by luck more than clues, this is still a fun read. The characters are appealing and the setting, the Sea Glass bar, are described well. If you like cozies, this is a good choice.

The second book could not be more different.Sherlock Holmes vs Cthulhu is more of a cross between mystery and horror. An inventor has created a machine, called the Beast, which has homicidal qualities. Who is behind the Beast and what is its true nature? What is the significance of the spherical bone balls incised with symbols? Where did the supernatural aspects of the Beast Come from?

Gresh does a wonderful job of combining the Great Detective and a Lovecraftian monster. This was a perfect choice for Halloween time.

Currently Reading

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This week I read the fourth of Amanda Flower’s Mystery Bookshop series: Verse and Vengeance. Another charming cozy from this author. In this one, the P.I. Joel Redding, is murdered during. a bike race. Violet’s student Jo is involved – somehow – as well as her brother and her boss.

At the same time, Violet’s Grandmother, now the mayor of Cascade Springs, has begun transforming the village hall into a museum.

And for those readers interested in Violet’s love life, her relationship is moving forward, although in fits and starts.

Whitman’s poetry is an integral part of this mystery and like good fiction, it inspired me to actually read some of his poetry.

The second book I read this past week was Death Rang the Bell by Carol Pouliot. Death Rang the Bell is the third, so far, in this series. It has an interesting premise; Olivia, the main character, sees a strange man in her bedroom. They discover he is a police detective in 1934 (she is in 2021), the house allows them to time travel from 1934 to the Olivia’s time and back again.

In this offering, the owner of a large department store is found murdered. His estranged wife and son are the first suspects. Pouliot includes a number of details about 1934. By now, Olivia and Stephen have learned how to cross over and live in each other’s times. The big question remains: how will they manage to carry on their relationship when they come from two different times.

Currently Reading – Amanda Flower

After seeing a talk by Amanda Flower, I was inspired to read several of her books. I chose the Magic Bookshop series.

In Crime and Poetry, the first of the series, Violet Waverley is called home by her grandmother who claims she is dying. On Violet’s arrival in Cascade Springs, she discovers her grandmother is not dying and her claim was, in fact a ploy to lure Violet home. After the death of her best friend twelve years previously, Violet had left, swearing to never return. But the Waverley women are tasked with protecting the magical birch tree that grows through the shop and now it is time for Violet to take on that responsibility.

Her old flame, Nathan Morton, is now the mayor and he shows signs of wishing to re-kindle their romance. The new chief of police, David Rainwater, is another suitor for Violet’s affections.

Shortly after Violet’s arrival, her grandmother’s love interest is murdered and Violet dives into the investigation.

Pros and Cons takes place at Halloween and this time Violet’s best friend Sadie is accused of the murder of another member of the Red Inkers, the writing group. All the evidence points at Sadie but Violet is determined to clear her friend and find the true murderer.

The third I have read of the five, Murders and Metaphors, concerns the murder of a famous sommelier and author who is conducting a signing at the local Morton winery. I was inspired by this title to research ice wine, which I have heard of but never tasted.

Do I plan to read the final two in this series? I certainly do. The murders are not true whodunits, but the setting in this small town and the bookshop is absolutely charming and I really enjoy the sparkling characters. Although I do not usually care for cozies, these are delightful

Currently Reading

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One of the truisms of mystery writers in that most of us, probably all, are big mystery readers. I read an average of three books a week. I thought, on this page, I would give you my thoughts on the books I’ve read during the week.

9/30/21. In the past week, I read three books, all very different.

Ice and Stone, by Marcia Muller, is the latest Sharon McCone. Although written pre-pandemic, it is quite timely.

McCone is hired to investigate the disappearances and murders of three Native American women. Considering that I read this at the height of the buzz about Gabby Petito, and the discussions about the many women of color who disappear without a similar furor, I found the topic riveting. Inequality and the entitlement of the wealthy, racism, and the plight of the fictional triple are all part of the setting. The plot was a little convoluted but Muller is a good writer and I was enthralled right to the end. Definitely recommended.

A Darker Reality is Anne Perry’s latest Elena Standish. I’ve read all three and enjoyed them but this is the weakest of the lot.

Elena and her parents travel to Washington, D.C. for her grandparents’ sixtieth wedding anniversary. One of the guests is murdered and Elena’s grandfather is accused. Elena and her family work tirelessly to prove his innocence. The mystery is set pre-WWII and delineates American Nazi sympathizers. I’ve enjoyed all of Perry’s series through the years and she is a good writer but I found this one somewhat preachy.

Bloodless by Preston and Child was the third book this week. Frankly, I have mixed feelings about the Preston and Child oeuvre. The writing style is pedestrian and the books vary widely in quality. This one was even more fantastic than most. It ended with a cliffhanger so we will see where these writers go next.