Saturday, June 14, 2014

Blog Tour for Anna Loan-Wilsey




Today I am honored to be a part of the Great Escapes blog tour for Anna Loan-Wilsey's upcoming novel, A Sense of Entitlement, out on June 24th.  I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader's copy, so I have already read and reviewed this historically fascinating mystery.  This book is the third Hattie Davish mystery, a series that started strong and is maintaining its excitement and excellence.  As a traveling secretary in the 1890s, Hattie Davis finds herself in some intriguing historical settings where murder seems to wind its way into the lives of the people who employ Hattie.  With a level head and an instinct for detail, Hattie proves far more than a capable secretary.  A special treat from Ann Loan-Wilsey is the announcement at the end of the interview questions of the title of her fourth Hattie Davish book now under construction!



My Review
A Sense of Entitlement (Hattie Davish Mystery, #3)A Sense of Entitlement by Anna Loan-Wilsey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Already a committed fan to the Hattie Davish series after book #2, Anything But Civil, proved that Anna Loan-Wilsey cemented my addiction/committment, the third book continues to affirm the series' excellence.  In my review of the second book, I spoke of the meticulous research and attention to detail that assures readers of an authentic, fascinating read in these novels set in the mid 1890s. I feel it is worth repeating here, in case that review has not been read. "There is no doubt that the author writes from a wealth of intelligence, meticulous research, and grand story-telling skills. Ms. Loan-Wilsey spins a fascinating murder mystery with immaculate attention to the minute details of a crime. Her amateur detective, Ms. Davish, is a traveling secretary by trade, but her intelligence and diligence propel her into realms normally beyond her station in life in the late 1800s when she is called upon to solve crimes connected to her assignments. With both of the current books in the series, the reader learns along with Hattie more about particular areas of history that affect her world of 1894. And, it is those gems of learning about an event and place in history that aren't in the forefront of history books. For those who love their mysteries combined with these delicious tidbits of history, Anna Loan-Wilsey's novels will definitely tickle your fancy." 

The piece of the 1890s brought to life in A Sense of Entitlement is the summer season of the rich elite in Newport, Rhode Island.  It is the place where the Astors and other top society have their summer cottages, which are in reality grand mansions only used six weeks out of the year. Hattie arrives in Newport as a part of Sir Arthur Windom-Greene's entourage.  Sir Arthur has employed Hattie or recommended her to others as a traveling secretary since she first began her occupation.  However, immediately upon arrival, Sir Arthur is called away to tend to his ailing father.  Sir Arthur's wife, Lady Phillippa, is anxious to pawn Hattie off on someone else while he is gone, so she arranges for her to work as a social secretary for Mrs. Charlotte Mayhew.  It doesn't take long for Hattie to realize that the high society families are rampant with secrets and conspiracies.  With the appearance of the first dead body, Hattie is once more thrown into a world of detecting the truth from deception.  To complicate matters, there is a labor agitator in town trying to stir up support for fair labor practices and greatly annoying the rich employers, including Hattie's.  Everything becomes of importance in determining a murderer, and the police aren't eager to rock the boat of the upper classes.  Hattie is her usual competent self, but she must deal with the prejudices and demands of people who think they are above the law.  Of some comfort to Hattie is the presence of her two older lady friends, Miss Lizzie and Mrs. Lucy, but even that comes with a cutting edge.  Dr. Walter Grice, who has shown interest in Hattie since her first adventure in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, has a mother named Julia Grice, and Julia is staying with the sisters Lizzie and Lucy in Newport.  Mrs. Grice has plans to match her son up with a girl of the right "station" while in Newport, not a traveling secretary.

Anna Loan-Wilsey has created a series that gives the reader an authentic look into the world of the latter nineteenth century,  encompassing all the constrictions of that era, but also a nod to the progress coming in the new century.  It's a step back into a history on the cusp of change, and Hattie Davish is part of that exciting change.




Forty Steps- another 1895 photograph of the 40 steps, a location that figures prominently in the story.  The current 40 Steps is made of stone and looks very different.  I found this photograph to be invaluable for historic accuracy.




Interview with the Author


Anna Loan-Wilsey
           
    Anna, I know that you do a lot of research for each novel, and I’d like to ask you a few questions about that.  I think most of your readers realize that you have had to actually visit the locales of your novels, but it’s obvious your research extends beyond that.  In reading your blog, you have in your “tidbits” section some very interesting information from your research, which I encourage all to view.  So, for the questions. What are different resources you employ?  What do you look for beyond the historical events of each novel?  Are there any unique methods of research that you’ve done?   How long do you usually spend in the book’s location, and what is your usual pattern there?


As you mentioned, the first thing I do is visit the book’s location.  I usually spend 3-4 days there walking the streets, photographing the architecture, and combing the library’s archives, local book collection, period newspapers and appropriate city directories.  I literately spend every waking moment trying to soak up the atmosphere, the attitude and the history of a location for as long as I can. I discovered on my second research trip, that my digital camera was my best friend.  Instead of spending time printing up articles from microfilm or jotting down names from a city directory, I photograph everything.  Not only does it save me time, I also capture extra material that I can use later. When I return home, I use Interlibrary Loan from my library for text I need and the internet to fill in the gaps I missed while on location.  One excellent resource is the NY Times Archives Online. And of course, I have a library of reference books I use with every book.


        How did you come up with Hattie as a traveling secretary in the first place?  Where did your interest in this career path for your leading lady come from? 

I needed a viable profession for a woman from the 1890’s that could also move about.  Lady “typewriters” were becoming common in this era but most worked in typing or steno pools.  By making the leap from typewriter to private secretary (which although a common profession for men was not so much for women), allowed Hattie to travel to or with her employers.


What made you choose the particular period of time, the late 1800s for your time setting?

Since I can remember I’ve loved the late 1800s.  I live in a house built in 1892, complete with a parlor (with Eastlake furniture), a library (with a bust of Louis Agassiz, and a dining room with Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper.  The decorative details and the gentility of the era are appealing but as a writer the era is wrought with social, technical and politic change that is just waiting to be included in a mystery.


  
      Apparently, you have quite a love of baseball, as you have some interesting facts about the early days of baseball on your blog.   I did a little reading on the beginning of baseball in the United States and found that “The earliest known newspaper account of a Baseball game in the United States was published on September 11, 1845, in the New York Morning News, which announced a game that occurred the previous day. The first recorded Baseball game was played on October 6, 1845 at Elysian Fields, in Hoboken, New Jersey by fourteen members of the New York Knickerbockers Club.” (http://www.19cbaseball.com/game.html)   The sport starts to really get interesting in second part of the 19th century and moving toward Hattie’s time.   So, I’m wondering if you intend to incorporate that sport into one of Hattie’s adventures in a future novel?

I’m thrilled that you noticed.  I’m a huge baseball fan and as it happens so is Hattie.  I have attempted to incorporate baseball into every novel with little success.  Newport was actually a promising location since they have one, if not the, oldest ballpark in the country.  Unfortunately I discovered it wasn’t officially used in 1893.  But I’m trying again with my next novel so cross your fingers, I don’t have to edit it out!


      Anna, you blend the historical fiction with the murder mystery so smoothly.  Which were you first interested in reading when you were growing up?  Or, were you interested in non-fiction history?

I loved history growing up (my father owned an antique store and my house was filled with them) and my mother is a self-taught Napoleonic scholar but I was definitely reading mysteries long before I read historical fiction. 


     Continuing with your reading habits as a youth, do you have a favorite book or two that have
     stayed with you?

My mother’s copy of Agatha Christie’s Pocket Full of Rye was the first cozy I read (in one night I might add) and I haven’t looked back since!  On the flip side, I’d read J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings three   


And, of course, I have to ask about the next Hattie book after A Sense of Entitlement.  Can you give readers any information about where Hattie will find herself on her next assignm

I’m excited to say that Hattie’s next adventure is one of a more personal nature-she goes home to the bustling Missouri River city of St. Joseph, Missouri, birthplace of the Pony Express, site of Jesse James’ violent end and home to Mrs. Chaplin’s School for Women, Hattie’s alma mater.   And just for you, Kathy, I’d like to reveal the title for the first time anywhere- A DECEPTIVE HOMECOMING.  



Breakers- a photo Anna took of the famous Vanderbilt "Cottage" as seen from the Cliff Walk.  Although this was only in mid-construction during the story (wasn't finished until 1895), she "borrowed" some elements for the fictitious Rose Mont.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Reviews from Some Great Reading in 2014

2014 is shaping up to be another stellar reading year for me, reliably wonderful reads from favorite authors and delightful surprises from new authors.  Quite honestly, I'm still trying to catch up on some books from 2013, so there will be reads published last year in my reviews, too.  Of course, I will forever be playing at catch-up in my reading, as time in the day just doesn't seem to keep pace with the amount of enticing books to be read.  If I'm lucky, there will always be books waiting.  Here is a sampling of the 45 books I've read so far this year, ones that I've particularly enjoyed.  One book that isn't listed and reviewed below is A Sense of Entitlement by Anna Loan-Wilsey, as I will be doing a post featuring just that wonderful book in a few days.


The Day She DiedThe Day She Died by Catriona McPherson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Catriona McPherson is the type of person who starts talking and everyone listens.  You just know that Scottish brogue of hers is ready to spill a tale or make you laugh.  Her writing cements her promise of a great storyteller, with the same shades of hook and catch as her speaking.  She draws the reader deeper and deeper into a world where there is no escape but through the weave of words that bring you to the edge and have you holding on for dear life.  I suppose I could have just said that Catriona knows how to write a bang-up psychological thriller, but the step by step entrenchment into the darkness of the story must be emphasized.  While reading this on-the-edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller, I kept thinking I should be shouting, "No, don't open that door," or "Run away, run away NOW!"  Usually, with a thriller movie, I change the channel for a few seconds.  There is no changing the channel or skipping a page with this book.  You will be hanging on every word.

Jessie Constable is a Scottish lass working in a charity clothing store in Dumfries.  It's a rather dull, predictable life, but it suits her fine as she struggles to keep demons from her past at bay.  What happens when she meets Gus King spins her ordered world into an erratic, impulsive existence that has Jessie wondering what is real and what is imagined.  Jessie comes upon Gus and his little girl Ruby in the grocery store, Gus seems to be having an emotional breakdown over a phone call from his wife.  Jessie decides she can't ignore the man sitting on the floor and his daughter distressed over it, so she offers to help.  Within hours, she finds herself ensconced in the man's cottage by the sea with his two small children, Ruby and Dillon, helping the family handle the news that Gus's wife, Becky, has driven her car off a road and killed herself. Jessie suddenly becomes care-giver for the children as Gus scrambles to cope with the tragic news.  The unfolding of the rest of the story is an experience in coincidences that aren't and words misconstrued, but not.  The simultaneous disappearance of Becky's best friend, Ros, becomes a puzzle that Jessie can't let go of, as she thinks it might have a bearing on Becky's suicide.  Gus is himself rather puzzling, as he alternates between grateful and caring to Jessie and inexplicably angry.   

Oh, what a tangled web Catriona McPherson weaves in this novel, and oh how delicious it is for the reader.  Prepare to stay up past your bedtime, and you might want to keep a light on after.  

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Bone Dust WhiteBone Dust White by Karin Salvalaggio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Karin Salvalaggio has published her first book, a murder mystery that is the first in what will be a series.  I had to type that statement out, as I'm still having a hard time believing that Bone Dust White is her debut novel.  Karin's writing is a gift of great characters, finely paced plot, and murder mystery with an abundance of entanglements.  She has created a complex, somewhat understated main character in in State Police Detective Macy Greeley who is both well developed and yet not fully developed, hooking the reader, but brilliantly hinting that Macy Greeley is a promise of layers to come.  As with all the most interesting characters in a series, Macy has a past that is revealed as relevant to the situation and a future that is evolving. 

Bone Dust White brings readers into Macy Greeley's life when she is eight months pregnant, single, and on assignment away from her home of Helena, Montana in the small town of Collier, where she worked a murder case eleven years prior.  It has taken eleven years to finish business that began in murder and ends once again in murder.  Grace Adams lives with her widowed aunt in an isolated area of an unfinished housing development in Collier, and she is recuperating from a heart transplant operation when a woman comes through the snow to her house, knocking on the door, and then running from an assailant on the trails in back of the house.  The woman is stabbed and left to die, and while Grace is terrified, she is compelled to go help the woman after the attacker has fled.  Grace discovers that the dying woman is someone important from her past, and it's only the beginning of the past coming back to haunt her in its nightmarish revelations.  Macy's job is to find the killer by connecting the dots that lead back to Grace and why murder arrived at her door.  Grace isn't the only one who must relive the past, as Macy has some ghosts of her own, too.

It's always a thrill for a mystery series fan to get in on the ground floor of a series, and when its first novel, and the author's debut novel, is as satisfying a read as Bone Dust White, the excitement is enhanced ten-fold.  I am already invested in the character of Macy Greeley and am looking forward to how she handles the challenge of single parenthood while continuing to be an exceptional detective. 




Songs of Willow FrostSongs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


At first, I was tempted to compare Songs of Willow Frost with the much-loved Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, but, fortunately, I only held onto that temptation briefly.  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet dealt with favorite subject matter for me, the tragic Japanese internment during WWII, and then introduced me to the Chinese element of that turbulent time in Seattle history.  But, Songs of Willow Frost should be judged on its on merits, as it is a different story, although in the same setting.  Writing a successful second novel must be one of the hardest accomplishments for an author, especially after the stunning popularity of the first, and, yet, Jamie Ford has done just that.  He has dug back further into the Seattle history of the Chinese, both immigrants and those born in the United States, and given readers another engaging story of heartache and struggle, with the element of hope that Ford seems to employ as essential and authentic to his main characters. And, hope is hard to come by when choices only exist in the forms of different levels of hell.

It is 1934, and William Eng is having his twelfth birthday, to be celebrated along with all the other boys in the Sacred Heart Orphanage on September 28th, the designated day for all boys' birthdays at that institution.  The celebration includes a trip for all the boys to a movie theater, a treat highly anticipated in the depression era of sparse meals and few possessions.  This particular birthday turns out to offer up the gift that William has wished for during everyday of his past five years at Sacred Heart.  He sees his mother again, not on the street or in a visit to the orphanage, but on the movie screen as an actress.  His shock turns into determination to find her when he discovers that she is visiting the city.  Of course, nothing is simple in a landscape of a penniless twelve-year-old orphan.  That he does find her is only a small part of this complex story.  With chapters going back to 1921 and forward to the present 1934, the woeful tale of Willow Frost, William's mother, is revealed, and his placement in it is unraveled. 

Jamie Ford is an expert at creating empathetic characters and stories into which the reader becomes completely ensconced.  That he imparts history at the same time is second nature, and smoothly interwoven into the narrative.  I had been looking forward to Ford's second book for a while, and I'm delighted to report that it was well worth the wait.



Palisades ParkPalisades Park by Alan Brennert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Nobody does historical fiction with the setting as a character better than Alan Brennert.  I'm not discounting that there may be some equal to the task, but none are more masterful at taking a place, creating fascinating characters with life-long ties to that place, and mixing in the magnetizing truth of events and people with the plausible storytelling of a simulated narrative.  Brennert is simply and complexly brilliant.  His previous best-selling novels, Moloka'i and Honolulu are of equally epic status. 

Overlooking the Hudson River, Palisades Park was the legendary amusement park in Cliffside Park/Ft. Lee,New Jersey forever immortalized in the song by Freddy Cannon in 1962 entitled "Palisades Park."  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkNVw...)  Opened in 1898 and closed in 1971, Brennert's story covers mostly the years when the park was under the ownership of the Irving and Jack Rosenthal, brothers who bought the amusement park from the Schenck brothers who went on to make history in the motion picture business.  The Rosenthals were wholeheartedly committed to making Palisades Park the premier park for fun and innovation.  Constantly updated, the musical element alone was a who's who of musical history, from the Big Bands of Benny Goodman to the up and coming Frankie Avalon and the Jackson Five.  The rotating attractions, the imaginative rides, and the country's largest saltwater swimming pool entertained thousands over the years.

Alan Brennert has inserted into this spectacle of enchantment a family of dreamers who find themselves immersed in the community of the amusement park where Eddie, the father, and Adele, the mother, met as concessionaires and after marrying opened up their Saratoga french-fries concession together.  Children Antoinette/Toni and Jack grow up with Palisades Amusement Park as their daily playground. The ensconced culture of the times becomes a  sweet nostalgic look at the days of listening to radio programs as a family, pin curling hair, reading comic books, and the "bobby soxer" look.  And, yet, Brennert doesn't leave out the not so sweet parts, such as racial discrimination and war, which so substantially affect the country and the lives of the Stopka family. WWII impacts Eddie, Adele, and their children in ways that will linger for decades and change lives forever.  The issue of civil rights is fought on the very doorstep of the amusement park with the family's belief that people are people, no matter what, put to the test.  And, the dreams of youth and the dreams of adulthood are played out in an ever changing landscape of possibility.  Toni's early goal of becoming a high diver after witnessing one at the park is challenged by gender expectations and family dynamics.  Eddie's and Adele's dreams are not always on the same page, and Jack, sweet Jack, finds that heroes aren't always as they seem. Intertwined in the story of the Stopka family are a cast of minor characters, both real and fictional, with consuming stories of their own. 

Even in the physical arrangement of the book, Alan Brennert gives creative, meaningful direction.  The beginning chapter, where Eddie as a child first visits the amusement park with his father, is entitled Opening Bally.  The final chapter, after Pallisades Amusement Park has closed, is entitled Closing Bally.  This metaphoric salute to the Park seemed somehow perfect and fully satisfying.  In the author's note at the end, he states that the book is his "love letter to a cherished part of my childhood."  After reading his love letter, I would conclude that he has spoken not only for those who cherished Palisades Park, but for all of us who have a special place from our childhood days that transported us into a world of magical possibilities. 

What's especially satisfying about an Alan Brennert novel is that they usually don't end with the last page, as the reader will become so engrossed in the setting, people, and events that you will seek out more books, fiction and non-fiction to keep your new-found love of place in motion.  My suggestion is to keep your post-its tab markers handy to identify the many parts of this narrative you will want to revisit.




The River of No ReturnThe River of No Return by Bee Ridgway

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The aspect that drew me to reading this book was that of time travel, a favorite element with too few outstanding novels featuring it.  Bee Ridgway's debut novel did a good job with time travel, and for being a debut novel, it was impressive.  There has been much comparison of The River of No Return with Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, and I feel that the comparison is apt.  Both are solid four-star (out of five) achievements in dealing with the intricacies of time travel and well worth reading for interesting, engaging stories.  However, my standards for time travel writing will forever be influenced by having read Connie Willis' Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, Blackout, and All Clear.  Those novels are the gold standard of time travel storytelling and remain the five-star rating masterpieces.  Again, that's not to say that The River of No Return isn't a thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend is well worth your time (pun intended). 

The characters of Lord Nicolas Falcott/Nick Davenant, a soldier about to meet his death on a Napoleonic battlefield in 1813 and awaking to find himself in the 21st century, and Julia Percy, granddaughter of an Earl who kept important secrets from her when he died in 1815, are characters whom readers can quickly become ensconced in and champion.  And, there are an abundance of supporting characters, both good guys/gals and bad.  There is the Guild, an organization of time travelers that intercedes when someone "jumps" in time and helps acclimate that person to his new surroundings, but the Guild has control issues that may or may not make it the bad guy.  The Ofans are also a time travelers organization, but they are often in opposition to the Guild, as the Ofans support a less controlled and open information group.  Are the Ofans the better group, or are they just more charming?  When Nick is allowed to travel back to 1815, he must decide where his loyalties lie.  The stakes become high after he meets Julia, who has information that is of vital importance to both sides, and there is the added complication of Nick's growing affection for Julia.  Just as Nick will have to determine who the good guys are, the reader takes this journey, too.  It's an exciting adventure, and there is the Regency England to enjoy, along with a cast of colorful characters. 

On a personal note, the setting of Nick's ancestral home, near Stoke Canon, England was an especial delight, as Stoke Canon is my ancestral home, too.  Personal connection is always an added treat to a good read.  And, Ridgway does a nice job at creating the setting, both in all locations, from present-day Vermont to the countryside of Devon to the London of mid-Regency period. 

Now, the problem with writing about time travel is that there can be a confusion of too much theory about its source.  Ridgway seems to fall into that trap of trying too hard to make sense of it all, and the effort shows through in the writing as her effort and not the characters'.  There is almost a schizophrenic meandering at times, especially towards the end.  The ending itself seems a bit rushed and unfinished, even with the promise of a sequel ahead.  Of course, to be fair, it is a debut novel, and Bee Ridgway shows great promise in telling



Murder in Retribution (Scotland Yard #2)Murder in Retribution by Anne Cleeland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One of the most thrilling discoveries for a mystery genre reader is that of a new series.  That has indeed been my pleasure with the New Scotland Yard series by Anne Cleeland.  I was most fortunate to receive an advanced copy of the second in this series, Murder in Retribution, and reading it has cemented my addiction to the characters of Chief Inspector Michael Acton and Detective Constable Kathleen Doyle as they work together both professionally and personally.  I think Cleeland's real gift in this series is its unexpected bluntness of events, an original approach that ignores the normal unfolding of life and relationships.  I am hopelessly hooked, just as Acton is with Doyle.

In this second novel of the series, the husband and wife team of Acton and Doyle become involved in the underworld murders in London that seem to be a tit-for-tat turf war affair.  It's a dangerous matter of investigation, and as seems to be the norm for the anything but normal couple, the investigation turns personal.  Acton has his own interests in bringing to justice certain criminal elements, and Doyle becomes a sitting duck for a most callous killer.  Even the brilliant Acton can't anticipate the insidious plan of attack that ensues. 

Anne Cleeland has created a captivating series full of intrigue and originality.  The delightfully witty dialogue of her characters is not limited to the main characters' give and take of intellectual sharpness and Irish good humor.  The entire cast is gifted with clever quips and interplay.  I find myself rereading dialogue in various scenes just to experience the satisfaction of it again.  Doyle is perhaps the most gifted, as even in dire circumstances, she seems to be capable of seeing the irony or insanity of it.  And, her understanding of and acceptance of Acton's special problem is most welcome, as the reader doesn't have to spend time wading through misunderstandings and immature relationship issues.

So, it is with unrestrained enthusiasm that I endorse and recommend Anne Cleeland's novel Murder in Retribution, due out the end of July.  I encourage pre-ordering it to ensure a quick arrival.  And, if the first in the series, Murder in Thrall, hasn't been read, it's a must to enjoy the full impact of the Acton/Doyle partnership.  I confess that, even though I'd already read the first book, I went back and reread it before delving into the second.  Now, you know just how much I am enraptured by these novels.

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The Outcast Dead (Ruth Galloway #6)The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ruth and Nelson and Kate and Cathbad and Judy and all the wonderful, amazing characters of Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway mysteries are back in all their glorious splendor.  Taking a trip to Norwich once a year to be with these characters and the stories that bring them all together is one of my favorite reading experiences.  Characters, plot, setting--no one does these any better than Elly Griffiths.  She is the puppeteer extraordinaire in creating a world of suspense and emotion using the elements of storytelling that captivates and emerges.

Ruth, in her role as forensic archaeologist, finds herself smack dab in the middle of the filming of a TV series, "Women Who Kill," when a dig at Norwich Castle has yielded the body of the infamous Mother Hook, a Victorian woman convicted and hanged for the murder of children under her care as a baby farmer in 1867.  The past, as it often does, appears to be asserting itself into the present, as the death of one baby and kidnapping of others weaves its insidious way into the lives of the present day residents of Norwich.  Someone who calls himself/herself the Childminder is selecting children who are minded by others instead of the parents, whom the Childminder feels should be doing the caring.  Very much aware of her own toddler Kate's vulnerability, Ruth is eager to see the culprit caught and stopped before an escalation of violence ensues. Cathbad, the druid we readers have come to love, returns to the area, as the events of the day strike close to his heart.  With the possibility of a new romantic interest, Professor Frank Barker, the history expert for "Women Who Kill," Ruth is dually involved in work with Frank on the possibility of Mother Hook's innocence and in trying to aid in stopping the modern Childminder from tearing apart the lives of those she holds dear. And, of course, for Ruth there is the continuing worry of what the future holds for the child that she and Nelson share, but don't share. 

Elly Griffiths is such a consistently brilliant author, and, as a result, this series never disappoints.  The hard part of being a fan is waiting a whole year between novels.  Maybe, Elly will reward  and delight us with an e-story this year, too.  Elly/Domenica?    



Seven for a Secret (Timothy Wilde Mysteries, #2)Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The first book in this series, The Gods of Gotham, introduced the character Timothy Wilde and his involvement as one of the first "copper stars" in the formation of the New York Police Department in 1845.  Seven for a Secret continues this sensational trip back in time, to a time and place of major change in our less than century old country.  As with her first book, author Lyndsay Faye, connects with another controversial topic of that time, one that will require decisions of what is right over what is the law.  Timothy is nothing if not a crusader for true justice and combatant for people whose rights are deemed less worthy because of their circumstances in life.  Having come up the hard way himself, with only his brother Valentine, to care a wit for him, Timothy understands all too well how it feels to have the world against you.  His understanding in conjunction with his compassion and strong will serve to make Timothy Wilde a persevering character that the reader roots for with great attachment.

Six months into his job as a copper star, Timothy Wilde finds himself spending Valentine's Day 1846 tying up a case of a stolen painting while the love of his life is far away making herself a new life in London.  But, this particular Valentine's Day ends on a dramatic note as Lucy Adams arrives at Timothy's office in The Tombs frantic that her family has been stolen.  With Lucy's appearance, Timothy and his fellow policeman Jakob Piest encounter an issue that was both unremarkable throughout the country and volatile in its simmering injustice.  To Timothy, it would become a matter of conscience that reflected a major change to come.  For Lucy Adams was African American, and her son and her sister had been taken by slave catchers, or blackbirders, as they were known.  Although Lucy and her family claim they are legally free, with papers to prove it, proving it was often impossible when it was legal to "re-capture" run-away slaves, and the distinction between slaves and free blacks was often ignored by the blackbirders and the legal system.  So, Timothy's oath to uphold the law quickly becomes secondary to upholding human rights and doing the "right thing."  As usual, Timothy's opposition to slavery and the appalling practices of slave-catching puts his brother Valentine in a challenging position, as the Democratic party in which Val is so deeply entrenched supports slave owners' rights to own and recover slaves.  However, the bond between the two brothers never puts in doubt that Valentine has Timothy's back.  When Lucy Adams meets a tragic fate, Timothy proves that he has his brother's back, too.  Timothy must find a way to help a family remain free and keep his job, too.  Politics plays havoc with Timothy's mission, along with his nemesis, Silky Marsh.  Timothy's old friend Julius Carpenter is involved in the "committee," charged with protecting and freeing captured African Americans, and he is a vital part of the effort to protect Lucy Adams' family.  Other characters that charmed readers in the first book--Bird Daly, Mrs. Boehm, and Gentleman Jim--all give readers great insight as to the private moments of the brothers Wilde.  Timothy is determined to make at least one story in the New York City cesspool of misery have a happy ending, but he is fighting an uphill battle with the clock winding down quickly to the zero hour.

So, Lyndsay Faye has given readers a second fascinating story about mid-nineteenth century New York City, a place and time that she brings alive through characters of grit and diversity.  Through the character of Timothy Wilde, Lyndsay exposes the ugly underbelly of this great metropolis while maintaining the decency of those who would have it better.  The historical detail reflects the author's indefatigable research and dedication to authenticity.  My impression of Ms. Faye, both in person and on paper, is of someone whose brain is constantly humming with activity and intrigue, which translate to great reading for her fans.




The Wrong Girl (Jane Ryland, #2)The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In The Wrong Girl, Hank Phillippi Ryan continues the reporter Jane Ryland and Detective Jake Brogan series in great form.  As in the first book, The Other Woman, the action is perfectly paced, constantly building from one thrilling scene to the next, driving towards a connection of the mufti-layered plot that will not disappoint.  Ms. Ryan knows how to hook the reader on page one and keep you squirming until the last word.

With Jane Ryland still adapting to life as a newspaper reporter, after her fall from television fame for protecting a source, she can ill afford any missteps in her precarious new position.  What she doesn't need is Tucker Cameron, an ex-colleague that caused her headaches at the newspaper, showing up at her apartment on a Sunday afternoon with a problem for which Tuck is soliciting Jane's help.  Having recently been reunited by a reputable adoption agency in Boston with her birth mother, Tuck is convinced a mistake has been made.  Tuck implores Jane to use her reporter skills to uncover what is going on at the adoption agency that guarantees its information as indisputable.  Tuck isn't the only person to be doubting the perfect record of the Brannigan Family and Children Services, and Jane soon starts to suspect that there's indeed something rotten in Denmark concerning the prestigious placement agency.  The secrets run deep, and there are those willing to do whatever it takes to protect them. 

Meanwhile, Boston Police Detective Jake Brogan is called to the scene of a murder where a young woman with no identification has been killed and two small children left alive in an apartment.  Jake also notices a cradle, but no baby.  He seems to be the only one at the crime scene puzzled about the absence.  What appears at first glance to be a domestic homicide proves to be much more complex, wrapped in layers of missing information and missing and misidentified people.  The foster care system becomes an integral part of an investigation that must break through a facade of smoke and mirrors.

Jane and Jake keep finding themselves crossing paths once more in looking for answers (and Jane, a scoop) in their respective searches.  As usual, they serve each other as invaluable resources, and it is for that very reason they struggle to keep their desire for intimacy at bay.  They fear anything beyond friendship and professional allies would cross a line that could cost one of both of them a career.  But, when Jane starts receiving threats and Jake is placed in increasingly dangerous situations, it becomes harder to ignore the depth of their feelings for one another.

One of the aspects of Ryan's writing I most enjoy is how she puts layers of meaning in so much.  Dialogue, plot,characters, and even the title.  These all contain depths that tease the intellect and reward thinking.  With both books in this series, one realizes that the titles, "other woman" and "wrong girl", have multiple sources to which these names could apply in the stories.  I'm so looking forward to the next set of layers from this




A Flame in the Wind of Death (Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries #3)A Flame in the Wind of Death by Jen J. Danna

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Jen J. Danna and Ann Vanderlaan have created a series that has proved its staying power with its third tale of Massachusetts State Police Trooper Leigh Abbott and forensic anthropologist Matt Lowell.  A Flame in the Wind of Death is the second full-length book in the series, with the first being Dead Without a Stone to Tell It.  No One Sees Me ‘Til I Fall was a novella in between last year’s debut novel and this April 2014 release.  I am dazed by the flawless flow of these narratives. 

Not wanting to play favorites, but having topics of particular interest, I must confess that A Flame in the Wind of Death captured me especially.  It’s Salem, Massachusetts with Halloween on the doorstep, and a murderer strikes with a vengeance.  When a fire in a Salem antique shop reveals grisly remains of a woman with ties to the  Witchcraft community Abbott and Lowell have their work cut out for them in determining the victim's identity and finding the murderer.  So, the setting and setup are perfect for a tale in which bones must talk and shadows must be chased.  The pressure is on, as Salem prepares to welcome an outpouring of tourists on its busiest days of the year.  When a second similar murder occurs without any obvious connection to the first, nerves quickly become frayed.  Both murders are over the top, with the victims never having had a chance for survival.  Someone has an axe to grind, and whether he or she is finished is anyone’s guess.  Caught up in the intensity and pressure of the investigation, Abbott and Lowell aren’t finding much time for romance in their blossoming relationship, but then again, they are quite resourceful.  

The forensics are fascinating in this latest addition to Abbott and Lowell, as all of this series deals with detailed forensics, not skimming the top, but delving into the intricacies of bone, muscle, tissue layers -- and, yet, in Matt breaking it down and explaining it to Leigh, the reader comes to understand, too.  Never do the explanations outweigh the narrative of the story.  They enrich it, cleverly woven into the narrative and ever moving Abbott and Lowell closer to solving the case.  In A Flame in the Wind of Death, there is the additional element of fire and charred remains that add to the complexities of Matt Lowell’s job as a forensic anthropologist.  It is through the examination and close scrutiny of the skeletal remains of the victims that answers will be found as to the final minutes of life and means of death, which cry out to be heard.     

Beginning the chapters with a well-defined piece of the jargon used in the subject of the book, in this instance fires and fire fighting, greatly enhances the understanding of the action.  The research on fires and fire fighting has been thoroughly conducted, and the reader can be assured of authenticity in the gripping storyline.  Also, there is a conciseness of language to be enjoyed, use of the apposite word instead of a plethoric ramble.   The authors are so adept at this practice that I can’t help but delight in such well-placed words.  

The characters of this series are evolving at a steady pace in each novel, and the reader can’t help but feel a bond with not only Abbott and Lowell, but Matt’s forensic team as well.  Then there is Matt’s father, the ME, and Leigh’s co-workers.  All the characters are so well fleshed out, adding the familiarity and back story that readers crave and appreciate.

Sound structure, sound narrative, and sound writing.  You don’t pay your nickel and take your chances with this series.  You pay your nickel and get great reading.



Murder With Ganache: A Key West Food Critic MysteryMurder With Ganache: A Key West Food Critic Mystery by Lucy Burdette

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This especially bad winter has been the perfect time to catch up reading Lucy Burdette's Key West Food Critic Mystery series.  Each book is like taking a vacation to my favorite tropical spot for relaxation and fun.  Burdette captures the essence of Key West perfectly, while taking readers on a delicious journey of culinary offerings on the island  But, she doesn't shy away from exposing some of the less savory aspects of the island life.  It's a feel good read anchored in reality.  In Murder with Ganache, homeless teens are at the forefront of life off the tourist path.

March might not be considered by most people to be the season of weddings, but in paradise, anytime is wedding time, and Haley Snow's best gal pal, Connie, has chosen that month to marry the love of her life, Ray.  Haley is Connie's maid of honor and in charge of baking 200 key lime cupcakes.  As is often the case with Haley, she is trying to juggle several pressing matters at one time.  With the wedding days away, Haley is dealing with deadlines for her job as food critic at Key Zest Magazine and the arrival of both sides of her family, including the last minute addition of her disgruntled teenage stepbrother Rory.

With accommodations finally worked out to everyone's satisfaction, Haley's main worry seems to be trying to ensure her mother and stepmother play nice.  Not so fast.  As the plan for Haley's cupcakes falls, so do the rest of the week's festivities follow suit.  Rory disappears the first night of the visit, and after a frantic search by boat, he is found on an abandoned sailboat unconscious and beaten.  While Rory fights for his life, the homeless girl he was with turns up murdered.  To discover what transpired in Rory's missing hours, Haley must turn to a shelter for homeless teens and a bench where pictures are taken for a lark. When Connie's long absent father shows up, even the no fuss wedding becomes complicated.  Can Haley convince her police friends that Rory isn't a murder suspect, keep a wedding on track, and turn out the articles to secure her job?  Only Cuban coffee and Haley's unfailing wit can see her through this kettle of trouble. 




City of Darkness and Light (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #13)City of Darkness and Light by Rhys Bowen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Be prepared to be wowed by lucky #13 in the Molly Murphy mystery series.  It is the second of the series to take place primarily outside of New York City, in another country.  The country this time is France, and the city is Paris in its heyday of cutting edge artists and intellectuals.  The year is 1905, and major cities, such as New York and Paris, are bursting with history and change upon which the twentieth century will be built.  Rhys Bowen once again seamlessly weaves the fiction of Molly's exploits with this metamorphic history, and the reader is presented with historical figures integrally enmeshed in the story line.  Of course, one of the strengths of Bowen's writing is transporting readers to an earlier time and place through her well researched connections of people to plot.  The Paris of 1905, at the zenith of seminal modernist artists, provides a bevy of real-life characters, such as Degas, Picasso, Monet, and Cassatt.  And, the places of Montmartre and Montparnasse will become wonderfully familiar. Bowen even works the Dreyfus affair and Gertrude Stein into a story where the history of Jewish discrimination is evident.

As City of Darkness and Light begins, Molly has no thoughts of Paris and famous artists, other than the occasional letter from her friends Sid and Gus, who have traveled to that progressive city in order for Gus to explore her artistic endeavors.  Molly is quite happy with her new family of her husband Daniel and son Liam.  However, Daniel's police business intrudes into their lives in a most devastating manner, as retaliation from the newly formed Costa Nostra takes the form of a bomb that destroys Molly and Daniel's cozy home and very nearly costs them their lives.  The solution to keeping Molly and Liam safe while Daniel searches for answers to the bombing is for Molly to take refuge with Sid and Gus in Paris.  Molly and Liam sail for the safety of Paris, but, to Molly's dismay, her friends are not there to meet her and have seemingly disappeared.  In Molly's attempt to locate her missing friends, she stumbles into a murder of a famous American artist who has resided in Paris for twenty years.  Molly's journey to locate Sid and Gus will take her into the heart of the artist community and require her yet once more to unscrabble a mystery of complex scope.  Molly also discovers that the Paris Surete is no fonder of interference than the New York Ciy police.

Followers of the Molly Murphy series will be well pleased with Molly's latest excursion into murder and mayhem.  Although now a married woman and a mother, Molly hasn't lost any of her drive and determination to use her powers of detection in solving yet another confounding death and clear the names of the innocent.  This lady is made of far sterner stuff than sugar and spice and everything nice, and she never ceases to win us



The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"Sometimes books don't find us until the right time." ~A.J. Fikry

The hardest book reviews to write are for those books that touch your soul, stories that you cannot imagine living your life and not having read.  It's so hard to do those books justice, because it's so hard to capture that inner joy of complete satisfaction gained through a piece of magical narrative.  The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is special beyond just a great read; it is a promise of second chances for us all.  Nobody does transformations better than Gabrielle Zevin.  She smacks it out of the ballpark right to your door, where you have no choice but to envision it for yourself.  Her stories redeem us and dare us to transcend our boundaries of imagination and possibility.  This latest novel reveals that life throws chances for change and happiness at us, if we are only open to catch them.

For many readers, the first tantalizing aspect of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is that A.J. owns and runs a bookstore on an island, Alice Island, and he is passionate and knowledgeable about reading.  How many of those of us who love books have dreamed about owning a bookstore, and on a island to boot. Book lovers will be delighted with all the mentions of classical literature, adult contemporary literature, young adult lit, and children's books.  Each chapter begins with an introduction to a short story that has somehow been important in the life of A.J.  Mention of the books and the stories may well cause additional reading after this novel, as the connection felt with A.J. and others causes a desire to inhabit their world and read their books.

When the reader first gains entry in A.J.'s world, the book connoisseur is recently widowed at the young age of 39 and is rather snobby about his literature tastes, persnickety and curmudgeonly inclined.  But, through the interaction with certain people on the island that is rather accidentally thrust upon him, A.J. and his bookstore, Island Books, will undergo a metamorphosis that has a ripple effect.  After losing his wife in a car accident, A.J. was well on his way to a life of chosen misery.  However, he will be gobsmacked with a surprise that puts to rest his desolate plan to drink himself to death. 

Along with A.J., there are great characters that populate this book and the island of Alice.  Chief Lambiase, Alice's chief of police, is an unlikely recruit to the world of books, but as his reading expands through A.J.'s mentoring, so does the community's involvement.  The friendship between A.J. and Lambiase is sweet part of A.J.'s salvation.  Zevin's characters, both major and minor, are always brilliantly developed and integral to the story.  The characters of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry invite the reader in and set a place at the table.  Funny, sad, uplifting, heartbreaking, hopeful.  Your emotions will be spent loving and living this story.  I'm reminded of a line from the movie Moulin Rouge, where the writer states, "The greatest thing, you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved . . . in return."  I believe this quote encapsulates the essence of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.  

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The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (Flavia de Luce, #6)The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There is something undeniably enchanting about the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley, and yet, they are not fairy tales for children.  However, as Flavia and her Aunt Felicity concur, perhaps the de Luce family secrets are best discussed in terms of tales of fantasy.   This series continues to be one of my favorites, as Bradley has created a character in Flavia that is one of the most engaging in literature.   Still a child at not quite twelve-years-old, Flavia functions quite ably in an adult world, intellectually years beyond a child and with survival skills, both emotionally and physically, equal to the adults that surround her.  Her familiarity with chemistry, including her particular interest in poisons, and her  impressive detecting abilities make for quite the exceptional child. 

In the latest entry in the series, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches, the mystery of what happened to Harriet de Luce, Flavia's long-lost mother, when she went missing in the mountains of Tibet is finally resolved.  The book opens at the defunct train platform of Buckshaw Halt, open for the express purpose of Harriet's return.  This return raises as many questions as it answers, not the least of which is the identity and purpose of the tall, strange man who is pushed to his death under the wheels of the moving train.  Flavia begins to get a sense of Harriet's and the de Luce family importance to England, as former Prime Minister Winston Churchill waits with the family and even speaks to Flavia, though his words are rather cryptic.  

Many of the characters from past books make a reappearance in this story, and of course, all the regular, fascinating personalities are there.  Flavia's brooding father; her tormenting sisters, Daphne and Ophelia; loyal family friend and handyman Dogger; Mrs. Mullet, Buckshaw's long-time cook and quasi-housekeeper; and Inspector Hewitt, whom Flavia  fervently wishes would acknowledge her detective skills.  And, there are a few new characters who bring both problems and answers.   Alan Bradley is brilliant at creating and developing characters that,  be they good or bad people, captivate the reader and add drama to the plot.  Flavia is on the cusp of a metamorphosis, as her quest to uncover her mother's secrets reveals  Flavia's place amongst all these people,  especially her family.    The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches is a turning point in Flavia's life and the series.  I'm certainly excited to see what Bradley has in store next for this unique character and her family.