Week of February 27

I read three very different books this week. I began with The Shadow of the Empire. No, not a Star Wars book but a new series by Qiu Xialong, the first of a series using the Golden Age’s Judge Dee as the protagonist.

Because of a political conflict, over succession, Judge Dee has been posted out of the city. On his travels he receives two mysterious message, one pinned to a post in his room with a dagger, and a message from an opponent asking him to investigate a murder, A famous poetess has been accused.

Naturally, the mystery, and the subsequent deaths, are more complicated than they first appear.

For me, the primary charm is the light it shines on this very exotic culture, so different from out own.

To another culture, although one a little closer to home, I turned to Stargazer by Anne Hillerman. She had taken over for her father, the world famous Tony Hillerman. Although she uses Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, she had expanded the role of a female character, Bernie Manuelito.

Bernie’s best friend from high school has confessed to the murder of her estranged husband. But, by all accounts, the split was amicable. Did something happen the night Maya and her husband met so Maya could obtain her husbands signature on the divorce papers?

As usual, there are plenty of details about the Navaho culture. A captivating read.

Finally, I read The Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn. This is the 23rd Daisy Dalrymple and the series hasn’t lost any steam.

Daisy, now married to Alec Fletcher, takes her daughter Belinda and some adopted cousins to the Crystal Palace. The children notice some strange behavior by their nanny and follow her – fortunately. They come upon her floating unconscious in a pond but manage to save her.

Once the children have told their story, Daisy embarks on her own investigation and discovers a dead body in the women’s loo (that’s the rest room.) The victim looks familiar but at first Daisy can’t place her. Once that small mystery is cleared up, Daisy begins her investigation into the murder. Charming as always.