Reading Room Interview with Author Annette Dashofy

 

 

The last twelve months have been tough on everyone and tragic for some.  It wasn't just the isolation, but the uncertainty of what the future looked like.  Stress was at an all time high, and relaxing was almost impossible.  The things we usually took comfort in weren't working.  Even my reading was way down, couldn’t focus, and that wasn’t a problem specific to just me.  So many reading friends have struggled during this pandemic with doing the very thing that they love most.  However, there were still some wonderful reading experiences.  One of those and one that kept me sane for months was the Zoe Chambers mystery series by Annette Dashofy. I couldn’t have picked a better time to read this entire series, finishing #10 in December.  It was my go-to read when I needed a calming escape.  The setting of the Pennsylvania countryside was truly a balm to my soul.  I owe much to Annette Dashofy, the author of this series.

I am happy today that the future is looking brighter and that so many of us have had both of our jabs of vaccine.  We are slowly getting back to some activity outside of our homes, although I'm no ready to get on a plane yet.  And, with so many of my fellow readers regaining their reading mojo, I think it's a great time to have Annette Dashofy here on The Reading Room for an interview on her writing, both of the series that saved my sanity and what's up next for her.  I hope blog readers will enjoy learning more about the Zoe Chambers series and put it on their TBR list.   

 

  

 

Questions and Answers:

Annette, you have created characters with whom readers become wholly invested.  These are people we genuinely care about and with whom we feel a connection.  So, I’d like to start with talking a bit about some of those characters.

 

Reading Room:  How closely have you drawn on your own past experiences as an EMT for Zoe’s experiences?  And, where did her work in the coroner’s office come from?

Annette:  I’ve drawn quite a lot from my time with the ambulance service but not from actual cases out of respect for patient privacy. The sights and sounds (and smells) all come from my memories. The interactions of the crew and the layout of the ambulance garage are all true to my experiences. And of course, the emotions of encountering people Zoe knows when responding to a call are ripped straight from my heart. I had her start working with the coroner’s office in order to give her greater reason to get involved in the investigations. Back when I worked in EMS, we had a couple of paramedics who were given the job of deputy coroner at the same time, so it seemed like a good role for Zoe.

 

Reading Room:  Horses are such an integral part of Zoe’s life.  What of you is in that part of her character?

Annette:  Quite a bit! I had horses for 25 years and miss them. Zoe’s horse, Windstar, was really one of mine. Sort of. The horse in the book is the horse I wished my Windstar had been. The real one bucked me off more times than I could count. Other horses in Zoe’s barn are based on horses I had in real life as well.

 

Reading Room:  Two or three sentences to describe Zoe?

Annette:  Zoe is a caregiver at her core. If she can’t save a life, she wants to provide justice for the victim.

 

Reading Room:  It’s only natural that I now ask you if Pete has someone he is modeled after or from whom you took defining characteristics.

Annette:  Pete is a composite of many people. His first name comes from the man who was chief of police when I was a kid and who was a good friend of my dad’s. When I picture him, I see a younger Mark Harmon. His gun building hobby comes from my husband. And much of the cop stuff comes from several law enforcement friends.

 

Reading Room:  How did you go about finding police sources to ensure the authenticity of Pete’s work?

Annette:  I’ve attended Citizen’s Police Academies with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the FBI. I’ve attended several Writer’s Police Academies. My best friend’s son is a deputy sheriff in the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico and has been a huge help, answering my questions and offering solutions about what Pete might do in such-and-such a situation. And I have other friends who are cops or are retired cops and are happy to let me pick their brains.

 

Reading Room:  And, I must mention Pete’s father, Harry, who I daresay has been embraced by readers as one of their own.  How did Harry form in your mind?  Was the Alzheimer’s a factor from the start?  Was he always intended to be a continuing character in the series, or did that happen due to readers’ loving him so?

Annette:  Harry has a very special place in my heart. My dad had Alzheimer’s and while Harry is definitely NOT my dad, there are some aspects of Harry (his love of chocolate milkshakes and the way he calls everyone “Sunshine”) that come directly from my dad. I wanted to create a character to honor my dad and show the disease in a respectful, accurate way, which was hard because I also wanted Harry to be someone my readers would want to spend time with. We all know Alzheimer’s is an ugly disease, so it was a tricky balancing act. Honestly, Harry was not supposed to survive beyond the first book he was in (Lost Legacy). I intended to have him die a hero. But as my critique group worked its way through the pages, I could see them falling in love with him and knew they would kill ME if I killed off Harry. And considering my readers’ reactions to him, I think keeping him around was the wiser choice!

 

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OK, now let’s talk about your writing, the process and the peripherals.

 

Reading Room:  At what point in your life did you think you might like to write books, and was it always mystery/crime you wanted to write?

Annette:  I’ve been writing “books” since high school. I would write what is now called “fan fiction” longhand, in pencil, in a lined spiral-bound notebook and pass it around to my “fans” during study hall. They would read it and give it back with orders to “write MORE.” That’s very addictive! At that time, I was writing westerns and sci-fi. Then I discovered Mary Higgins Clark’s Where Are the Children. From that point, the only thing I wrote was crime fiction. However, I didn’t get serious about writing for publicatio 

 

Reading Room:  Who were the people who encouraged you the most, personally and/or professionally, when you began to write the Zoe Chambers series?

Annette:  Personally, my mom supported my efforts although she really didn’t understand why I wanted to write. She was very pragmatic and didn’t “get” the creative side of her only daughter. Professionally, my Sisters in Crime mentored me, especially Nancy Martin. And Hank Phillippi Ryan offered me fabulous advice at a point when I was stuck in my career.

 

Reading Room:  So many authors seem to be part of a writing group who support and often review one another's work.  Do you have such a group, or have you had?

Annette:  Oh, yes. It takes a village. I’ve been involved in a number of critique groups over the years. My current one consists of three other published authors (Liz Milliron, Jeff Boarts, and Peter W.J. Hayes) without whom I can’t imagine writing anything worth reading. I’ve also swapped pages for years with my dear friend and fellow author Donnell Ann Bell. As I mentioned, I’m active in Sisters in Crime and Pennwriters. I credit all of them for getting me where I am.

 

Reading Room:  Can you tell us a little about your writing process or routine?   Do you have a set number of hours or words you strive for each day?  Any quirky writing habits you care to share? (i.e., a writing lucky charm or the sort?)

Annette:  My routine consists of getting up much too early, making coffee, and sending my husband off to work. Then I work on social media for a while before I wake up enough to eat breakfast. I start writing around 8:00 and spend (usually) two or three hours at it before taking a break. After lunch, I either work on editing or marketing or some other aspect of the business end of things. I do set a page goal each day, but it varies depending on whether I’m in the first draft or revision phase. I don’t have any lucky charms. I guess I’m quirky enough without one!

 

Reading Room:  Do you have a favorite part of writing?  Hardest part?

Annette:  The answer to both is the first draft. It’s the hardest part but it’s also the part I have the most fun with.

 

Reading Room:  Are you a plotter or a pantster?  Are outlines a part of your writing process?  Do you know where a story is going when you begin writing it?

Annette:  I’m a hybrid. Plus my plotting process varies from book to book. I’ve tried pantsing but the revisions on those manuscripts are intense. I always know who the killer is before I start, and I know his motive. From there I write the first 30 to 50 pages by the seat of my pants, but I know what a couple of the big plot twists are going to be. So my outline is basically a road map with a couple of stops marked along the way. In between, I never know where I’m headed.

 

Reading Room:  Now, a pandemic question.  So many of my reading friends have had trouble focusing on their reading during this pandemic.  Has the focus problem affected you as a writer?  Or as a reader?

Annette:  Yes. Both. More so at the start of the pandemic. Part of it was timing too. I’d turned in my 10^th Zoe Chambers mystery (Til Death) in February and knew it was the last of my contract. For the first time in several years, I wasn’t on a deadline and didn’t have a clear vision of what was next. In a normal year, I might have enjoyed the freedom. But I felt like I was floundering for a while. By mid-summer, I got my act together and regained my focus. By fall, I’d signed with a new agent and had a new contract with a new publisher. Lately, I’m again having some focus issues. I think I’m so eager to get the vaccine but so far down on the eligibility list, I’m bouncing between eager anticipation and depression over more canceled plans. But I do have that deadline which provides motivation to get the pages done! Reading has been an even bigger struggle but happily, I’ve discovered a few really excellent books and authors who’ve snapped me out of my doldrums.

 

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Now, looking to the future of your writing, Zoe and more.

 

Reading Room:  The Zoe Chamber series is so special to so many readers that it would be easy for you to concentrate solely on that, but you have a stand-alone book coming out in 2021.  Can you tell us a bit about how that evolved?

Annette:  That’s a novel-length story on its own! Short version: This is a manuscript I wrote back in 2005. I signed with an agent for it in 2006, but it never sold and the agent and I parted company. I bounced between it and Circle of Influence, the first Zoe Chambers mystery, for several years before focusing on Zoe. Once I got my first publishing contract, the old manuscript was put aside. Fast forward to 2020. I had completed my last contract with my publisher. I didn’t have an agent at the time. So, I pulled out Death by Equine, and decided to run it through my critique group, have my freelance editor do her thing, and indie publish it just to have something coming out in 2021. I now intend to release it on May 11. It’s about Dr. Jessie Cameron, a racetrack veterinarian whose mentor dies beneath the hoofs of one of his patients. Jessie doesn’t believe his death is the tragic accident everyone claims, but something much more sinister.

 

Reading Room:  As one of the many readers who depend on the Zoe Chambers series to be there like a treasured friend, can you comment as to the future of the series?  I must advise you that there is only one acceptable answer to this question.

Annette:  Zoe, Pete, and the gang will be back! I’m currently working on #11 which is scheduled for release in May 2022.

 

Reading Room:  Annette, you’ve changed publishers recently.  Can you tell us a bit about who your new publisher is and why you’re excited about your future with them?  Are they encouraging about the Zoe Chambers series and/or more stand-alones?

Annette:  Yes! First, let me say that finding a new publisher to pick up a series this far along is rare and amazing! I’m now with Level Best Books, who signed me for the next three Zoe mysteries, and I’m thrilled. I’ve known the women who run the business for years, and they’re incredibly supportive of their authors and the mystery community. Their other authors are terrific, and there’s a family atmosphere at Level Best that makes it feel like home.

 

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I like to end up interviews on a personal note of interest.  So, here are a couple of questions in that area.

 

Reading Room:  We fans are always curious about what our favorite authors are reading.  So, Annette, what are you reading these days?  Do you have a list of books you plan to read (I’m a list person and do have this)?

Annette:  So many books, so little time! Some people have to-be-read piles. I have to-be-read shelves. I recently discovered M.E. Browning’s Shadow Ridge and loved it. I’ll definitely be reading more by her. Next up on my list is And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall. Then I have some catching up to do with November Road by Lou Berney and All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny.

 

Reading Room:  And now, for one of my favorite questions I ask authors.  What would you like your readers to know about you that isn’t in your bio information?  Besides your obvious writing talent, any special interests or talents, quirky or not, you’d like to share?  This can be from your past or your present, a skill or an experience.

Annette:  In a previous life, my husband and I ran a photography studio. Years later, I was a contributing author and photographer to Pennsylvania Magazine. However, I had put my Nikon in its case and set it aside to use my phone’s camera for a long time (since getting on Instagram!) I recently pulled it out and am once again enjoying making photographs. It’s another form of storytelling that uses a different part of my brain.

 

 

Biography From Annette’s Web Site:

Annette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania’s tight-knit Vance Township. Five of her books have been nominated for the Agatha Award: CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE for Best First Novel 2014, BRIDGES BURNED (Best Contemporary Novel 2015), NO WAY HOME (Best Contemporary Novel 2017), CRY WOLF (Best Contemporary Novel 2018), and FAIR GAME (Best Contemporary Novel 2019). TIL DEATH is the 10th in the series. She has an upcoming standalone, DEATH BY EQUINE, set for release May 11, 2021. Annette’s short fiction includes a 2007 Derringer Award nominee featuring the same characters as her novels. She is the current vice president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Sisters in Crime and serves as a board member of Pennwriters, was their 2013 recipient of the Meritorious Service Award, and was their Saturday keynote speaker at the 2017 Pennwriters Conference. She also belongs to International Thriller Writers. Annette is represented by Blue Ridge Literary Agency. She and her husband live on part of what used to be her grandfather’s dairy farm in southwestern Pennsylvania with one very spoiled cat.

https://www.annettedashofy.com/

https://twitter.com/Annette_Dashofy

https://www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/annette-dashofy

  

 

 

                          Coming May 11, 2021

 

 

 

A Dead Man's Eyes by Lori Duffy Foster: Reading Room Review

 

A Dead Man’s Eyes is the first book in the new Lisa Jamison Mystery series by Lori Duffy Foster, and it is the author’s debut mystery/crime novel. However, Lori Duffy Foster is no novice at writing. A former crime reporter who has gone on to write non-fiction and short fiction, this mystery/crime fiction debut clearly reflects that writing experience. The pacing is particularly good, something that no doubt benefits from Lori’s crime reporting and familiarity with police and investigative procedure. The suspense level is sustained throughout the story, with just the right edge of encroaching danger. I found myself reading this book with that unshakeable trepidation of something waiting just around the corner, and that’s just how I want my mystery/crime reading to feel. 

The character at the center of the action is Lisa Jamison, barely in her thirties, but already with a sixteen-year-old daughter. Lisa had a rocky, unconventional start to her current life as a mother and reporter for the local newspaper in Seneca, New York. Having left a home where her parents neglected her for drugs and pregnant at fifteen, Lisa got put in the system. Her luck actually improved at that point, unlike some who suffer in the temporary support system. A couple took Lisa in and showed her a loving home, which enabled her to have her baby, Bridgette, go to college, and start a career. Bridgette’s father was out of the picture, partially due to the night that a tragedy caused he and Lisa to part. 

But, sixteen years later Lisa finds herself face to face with Bridgette’s father, Marty. Unfortunately for Marty, he is lying on a medical examiner’s table, dead from a gunshot wound. Lisa is friends with the ME, who has allowed her to identify Marty. Marty had recently contacted Lisa wanting to see Bridgette, but Lisa had told him she wasn’t yet ready for that. Now, Marty is the victim of murder and accused of being a drug dealer. Lisa knows that no matter how long it’s been since she’s seen Marty, he’s no drug dealer. So, how did her ex-boyfriend end up a murder victim? Lisa isn’t a reporter for nothing. Before she can tell Bridgette about her father, Lisa needs to clear his name and be able to give her daughter a more positive image of him.

Marty’s death really gets bizarre when at the funeral home visitation for him, his mother meets Lisa outside the funeral home to warn her that people will be watching them and to meet her in the funeral home’s restroom after a bit. The meeting in the restroom is brief and to the point. Celeste tells Lisa that she and Bridgette are in danger and gives her evidence Marty had on the people who killed him, evidence about a black market Lisa had been oblivious to. It becomes a life and death matter to uncover what happened to Marty now, but it’s hard for Lisa to know whom she can trust. She suspects the Mohawk County Sheriff’s Department of somehow being involved, and she feels threatened by the Sheriff. She has no choice but to keep digging, at one point literally, as Lisa fights to keep herself and those she loves from becoming victims, too. 

Thanks to Lori Duffy Foster and Level Best Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this first book of what promises to be a thrilling, dynamic series. I was delighted to find that A Dead Man’s Eyes was a book that thoroughly gripped me from beginning to end, and what an action-packed, emotionally charged ending it is. The characters are all so deftly developed, building on their background information that seamlessly segues into who they are today. There is a depth to the characters that is exceptional in a debut novel. Lori Duffy Foster is a welcome addition to the mystery/crime fiction community, and I am looking forward to her next addition to this series.

You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened ~ Reading Room Review

 

 

If you could travel back in time and not only observe but interact with your ten-year-old self and your then family, would you? Amy Weinland Daughters imagines herself doing just that, and the result is a fictionalized account of how as a forty-six-year-old adult Amy confronts her memories head-on. The very person she grew up to be, the wife and mother she became had their roots in the feelings and evaluations of her place in her family. Her relationships with her father and mother and siblings sprung from her perceptions of this family life. Would her perceptions be validated, or would they be turned upside down by a visit to her childhood? What would Amy learn about there being more than one side to a story? Is the title of the book accurate, that she cannot mess this up?  You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened seems both a dare and a promise.

Amy's trip back to 1978, from 2014, begins as an innocuous flight from Centreville, Ohio to Houston, Texas. Her husband Willie’s boss is married to a small plane pilot, who offers to let Amy tag along on a flight, as they are both going to Houston at the same time. Amy needs to get there a day ahead of her husband and sons, who will arrive on Thanksgiving Day, to attend a financial meeting with her father, Dick, and her siblings, Jen and Rick. Amy is the proverbial middle child of this family, with Jen being the "golden child" and Rick being the male heir to the family name.  Falling asleep shortly after take-off, Amy wakes up to find quite a shocking turn of events. She and Mary are wearing different clothes, and by different, I mean clothes from another time. Here’s the description of Amy’s new attire:                                                             

“My skinny jeans, boots, and sweater had morphed into some snug-fitting plaid pants. The color combo was mesmerizing—a blaring yellow-gold background, like the harvest-gold refrigerator my mom had in the ‘70s—offset with a brown check and narrow white gridlines. It was as if a roll of Scotch tape had exploded on my legs. Then there was a turtleneck sweater, ribbed, I suppose, for my pleasure. It was the same yellow-gold as the pant. It was seriously tight and for some unknown reason had a zipper at the back neck opening. I couldn’t see it, but I could definitely feel it.” 

 

Mary explains the bizarre turn of events. Amy is going to spend Thanksgiving Day 1978, which is apparently today, and the next day until 5:00 p.m. with her family of 1978, in their home of 1978, and that includes her ten-year-old self. The cover story is that she is a writer, which is true, and she has come to meet with someone in Houston about her writing. She is unable to make her returning connection to her home in Ohio and is thus going to be spending Thanksgiving with her cousin Dick, really Amy’s father, and his family. Apparently, Dick is going to buy this story.

Amy is in flash-back heaven as Mary drives her through the trendy subdivision of her 1978 childhood. It was nothing short of idyllic. When they arrive at Amy’s past home and family, she approaches it with much trepidation. Will this actually work? Will she be able to fake it and not slip up with her 2014 world spilling out? She seems to be the only one ill at ease with the task. Her 1978 family is welcoming, and Little Amy (present Amy becomes Big Amy, as she keeps her name) is an exuberant greeter indeed. Big Amy thinks maybe Little Amy is acting like a bit of a freak, but that’s not a complete surprise. Shown to her room, the only room on the third floor but conveniently with a bathroom, Amy unpacks her suitcase and realizes that everything in it is 1978 appropriate, even the make-up and sanitary napkins.

It’s easier than Amy feared to slip into the routine of the household as her mother prepares Thanksgiving dinner. She has alone time with all the family members and group time with the kids. She is surprised and thrilled by meeting her beloved dog Cecil again, too, and because dogs are dogs, Cecil recognizes her. There is a lot packed into the 36 hours Amy spends in 1978, and she gets an adult’s view of the family’s interactions and words, including both sets of her grandparents. The tension she never realized as a child that existed between her grandparents comes as an eye-opening revelation. The adult Thanksgiving night party is also a completely new piece of information to Amy. And, the everyday items of life were so less advanced than the time Amy had occupied just a few hours before. A television got only a few channels and much of that was poor reception, but no one seem frustrated by it. It was all they knew. Amy is disappointed in herself that she let so many things go seemingly unnoticed that she felt she should have noticed. Of course, she does recognize that a ten-year-old might not be as observant as a forty-six-year-old. After all, a child’s view is quite egocentric. 

All along, Amy is writing pieces of information and questions in a notebook, as there are so many comings and goings of the ordinary pieces of life that she never noticed. For example, how had she never realized that so many of her favorite popular songs on the radio as a child had adult lyrics? When did remote controls for television sets come into existence? Amy was constantly checking herself to not say such words as iPhone or Starbucks or cable TV. As you stand and look around your home today, you might ask yourself, when did laminate floors become available? Or, has the mail always been delivered six days a week? Or, when did the wall phone become popular and when did its use die out? When did the microwave oven become an everyday kitchen fixture, and when did the air fryer start to take over? And, when did skinny television sets replace the big heavy ones?

I thoroughly enjoyed this humorous, heartbreaking, renewing journey of Amy Weinland Daughters back to her birds-eye view of her ten-year-old world. It is filled to the brim with interesting contrasts between 1978 and 2014. It examines how people view the same conversation or event differently, and how we too often fail to consider another person’s experience of it. And, memories, can they be trusted? Reading You Cannot Mess This Up played to my fantasy of traveling back in time to my childhood. How many things did I not notice or view differently than others? Did my whistling in the back seat of the car produce a headache for my father as he drove instead of a cheerful tune? Is that why he asked me to stop? Reading this book will have readers re-examining some of their childhood moments, too, and that’s one of the best parts of reading, how we relate personally to it.

Although my favorite reading is mystery/crime, You Cannot Mess This Up was a delightful departure from it. As describes the reactions to so many stories of the heart, I laughed, I cried. The awkwardness of Big Amy’s dealing with an adult education of her previous family life and the love and compassion she feels for Little Amy create plenty of humor and heartache. There are touching moments and moments of utter frustration. Mary tells Amy before she enters her time warp home that she will have questions. But, will Amy gain the answers she needs? It’s a wild thirty-six hour ride for Amy and the reader to determine that.

Murder in Unsound Mind by Anne Cleeland: Reading Room Review

 

There are certain plot points on which you can rely in an Acton and Doyle murder mystery by Anne Cleeland. Acton will be trying to keep Doyle out of harm’s way or away from those cases in which he has a finger in the pie. Doyle will be trying to suss out what Acton is up to and involving herself in the very cases that Acton is attempting to steer her from. While DCI Michael Acton is a powerful man, a man of many resources, DS Kathleen Doyle brings her own resources to the contest, her Irish fey abilities of knowing the truth when she hears it and her ghostly dream intruders who push her along to the answers she seeks. Acton’s game gets flushed out by Doyle every time, but it’s never easy. Watching it all play out between two of my favorite characters in the mystery/crime genre is a scenario of which I never tire.  Murder in Unsound Mind, #13 in the series, continues to give readers an intriguing story with unique characters who are still capable of surprising.

Having had his worst nightmare come true in the last book, Murder in Retribution, Acton is hell bent on nothing dangerous touching his wife or son again. Acton zeroed in on revenge and protection is an unrelenting force. As a result of her husband’s over-protection, Doyle, pregnant with their second child, is struggling to get assigned anything of interest in her police work at Scotland Yard. She fears Isabel Munoz, her arch-rival at work is getting ahead of her in interesting cases and causes for promotion. There are cases tying in with the last book and the criminal activities at the health clinic investigation. And, there are those loose ends Acton is tying up. Yet, it is Munoz who calls Doyle to the scene of an interesting murder, one that Acton would probably rather she avoid. 

A young woman in her thirties, who was the office manager for Acton’s and Doyle’s best friend Dr. Timothy McGonigal, has been found dead in Dr. McGonigal’s office suite. The arrangement of the body and message left behind suggest a murder of unsound mind, which obviously means the murderer was not in his/her right mind when the murder was committed. Doyle has her doubts about it being an unsound murder due to certain “sound” aspects of it. When Acton arrives on the scene and examines it, he has a likely suspect in mind, Martina Betancourt. This links back to the nightmare that occurred at Acton’s and Doyle’s flat in the last book, as Acton reveals that the newly dead office manager had an affair with Martina’s husband, whom Martina helped to heaven last book in the Acton's flat.  So, Martina, who is currently free and awaiting trial for her husband’s murder, is arrested and placed under psychiatric surveillance. Nice and tidy, but of course it’s not. 

The fallout from that horrendous event at the residence of Lord and Lady Acton has long reaching tentacles of cause and effect, and Doyle’s fey senses have her head tingling in alarm that not all is as it seems. One of Doyle’s ghostly intruders, this time Dr. Harding, is urging her to connect the dots in determining what Acton is up to. When she discovers that the murdered office manager was a witness in their case against the medical clinic and that another witness has also met a tragic end, Doyle knows she will have to dig deeper to uncover what lies beneath it all and if Acton is calling the shots. 

Then, there is the other thread snaking its way through the book, which promises to continue to the next book. Edward (Doyle’s and Acton’s son) is under the care of sweet Mary, the nanny whom everyone loves. One of those who love her is her husband Howard, and Howard was loved first by Lady Abby. Lady Abby is not a good loser, and she once again shows up to spread her crazy around. This time Abby has a secret that could endanger careers and reputations. She must be dealt with, but by whom and how. 

One of the best parts of the Acton/Doyle union is how they care for each other. Acton’s concern over Doyle’s eating enough during her pregnancy and taking care of herself. Doyle’s early recognition of Acton drinking to keep the darkness of his worries at bay, a behavior he has greatly curbed with her guidance, but which he thinks she won’t notice now. Then, Doyle has been dealing with an injured hand that has been bothering her since the incident at the flat, and she thinks she can keep that hidden from Acton. Neither is successful at keeping the other one from noticing their problems, and it is the tender way they deal with one another over the problems that endears this couple to readers so much. They seem such an odd match at first glance, but they are absolutely perfect for one another. 

At this point in my reading and discussing Anne Cleeland’s writing, the Acton and Doyle series and her romantic adventure books, too, I have probably sung Anne’s praises with an untold number of superlatives. However, I don’t think I can ever thank her enough for creating the Acton and Doyle series that gives me such a thrill reading each book. Fans of this series, and there are many, aren’t just fond readers. We have rather the same diagnosis as Acton in his uncontrollable passion for Doyle, happily addicted.

Hull Noir Online Crime Fiction Festival

 

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Hull Noir Online Crime Festival.  In light of how much I enjoyed it and how brilliantly produced it all was, I feel compelled to do a short write-up.  The brains behind this successful online event are Nikki East, Nick Quantrill, and Nick Triplow.  They are cleverly introduced on the Hull Noir web page under "You're Nicked."  A brief summary of this talented trio is that they all three have a connection to the city of Hull, either born there, lived there, or live there now.  Nick Q. and Nick T. are crime writers and solidly entrenched in a life of crime, so to speak.  Nikki E. has worn many hats in the publishing industry and her work with authors, and who is especially gifted in image production and promotion.  She and Sumaira Wilson began their own publishing company last year, SpellBound Books, with Nikki in the position of Creative Director.  So, the three Nicks set out to create the online Hull Noir, which turned out to be a smashing success.  This event reached over a dozen countries.

I'm going to briefly describe what the panels were about and who was on them.  As the videos will be available to view next week, you should really enjoy it without any spoilers.  The event began on Friday evening, March 19th, with author Peter Robinson in conversation with Nick Quantrill.  Now, that's how to start any festival, online or in-person.  On Saturday, Hull Noir continued with six to-die-for (hey, it's crime fiction we're talking about) panels.  They included: In Cold Blood, Get Carter and Beyond, Wish You Were Here, The Unusual Suspects, Look Back in Anger, and Watching the Detectives.  I list the participants of the panels below.  

"In Cold Blood" is a panel led by Liz Mistry and features two authors who are rather new to the crime scene and one who is a little less new.  The three authors are Alex North, Nell Pattison, and Russ Thomas, and they talk about their foray into the genre.

"Get Carter and Beyond" is a panel that, while celebrating the 50th anniversary of the film Get Carter, takes a look at Ted Lewis (on whose book the movie is based) and his influence.  Nick Triplow (biography of Lewis), Alan Parks, and Nick Quantrill are in good hands with Ali Harper as moderator.

"Wish You Were Here" is led by Jacky Collins and features Helen FitzGerald, Abir Mukherjee, and Marnie Riches.  Location is on the table here, with near and far being looked at for new insight.

 "The Unusual Suspects" puts the police detective under the microscope.  Derek Farrell grills Louise Beech, AA Dhand, and Harriet Tyce on their different detective protaganists.

"Look Back in Anger" looks at a favorite sub-genre of mine, historical crime fiction.  Ian McGuire, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, and Cathi Unsworth have a in-depth discussion on how the history we look back at often explains the here and now.  Rhiannon Ward runs the show here.

"Watching the Detectives" brings the house down with Mark Billingham and Chris Brookmyre, encouraged by moderator Luca Veste to give it their all.  They do.  Contemporary crime is their topic, and we are treated to a discussion of Mark's and Chris' books.  I think the kitchen sink was in there somewhere, too.  I know a rock band was.   

There was/is also a festival read.  It is Plender by Ted Lewis, first published 50 years ago.  Lewis might be better known to you as author of Jack's Return Home/Get Carter, from which the Michael Caine movie Get Carter (1974) originated.  Although Plender was also made into a movie (French, 2006), it remains lesser known.  And, all I know about any of Ted Lewis' work is that it goes to a darker side than I usually read.  Oh, and you can find a Hull Noir short film production of Plender on the Hull Noir YouTube channel.  I have not watched it, so I can't say enjoy or beware or run.   

As a final part of the festivities, a book launch for Anthrax Island by D.L. Marshall in an interview with Nick Quantrill on the Hull Noir YouTube channel tonight. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo4pn7xfyyK3kHU3_rlREkQ/featured  

 

I love British writers, and I was thrilled with hearing authors already known to me and learning of more authors beyond my regulars.  The assembly of the panels, authors and moderators, was perfection itself.  There was a comfortable connection, and the questions were outstanding from the moderators.  Consistency of excellence was assured by the setup and the participants.  I am so excited about adding books to my toppling TBR pile, and I can't wait to meet these fabulous authors in person one of these days soon.  Don't forget that you can watch Hull Noir 2021 on their YouTube channel listed above.  It is so worth the time you take to tune in.

I also want to mention that events like Hull Noir take a lot of work and need funds to support them.  Hull Noir is dependent on the Arts Council and donations to keep going.  To ensure future Hull Noir events, there is a "donate" button on the web site page, https://www.hullnoir.com/ .  I encourage you to make a donation, and I'm sure after you see the videos of these panels and the Peter Robinson interview, you will be happy to do so.  Hull Noir began in 2017 when the city of Hull, England was chosen as the country's City of Culture, as part of the celebration of the area.  Funds were raised to sponsor another Hull Noir in 2020, but we all know what happened then.  Postponed to 2021 in anticipation of a live event being possible again, gears had to be switched to an online event, like so many events this past year.  The plan is to next produce a hybrid event, with live and online panels, and that's where the donations will help so much.

A quick mention, too, that The BookCase was the bookstore for the event and has a limited number of signed book plates for books.  Their link is https://www.thebookcase.co.uk/  Of course, using the bookstore of your choice is always good, too.

Now, I'm off to order some great new books to continue keeping my UPS person busy. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis: Reading Room Review

 

Being a person who loves books and reading, the thought of living in a library is exhilarating. Since that isn’t likely to happen, I do what readers do, I search out books for a vicarious experience. So, The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis was a perfect book for me. Taking place in two time periods, the first 1913-1914 centers on a family living in the residential area of the newly built New York Public Library, and the second in 1993 centers on a female employee working as a curator of historical literary items belonging to the New York Public Library. 

Laura Lyons, her husband Jack, and their two children are the first people to live in the residential quarters of the newly built New York Public Library in 1912. The (now) famous stone lions greet them as they enter the building. Jack is the superintendent of the library, in charge of making sure the library runs smoothly. He is also an aspiring author who has been working on a manuscript for several years and is at its point of completion in 1913, when we join the family there. With a household to run and two children, Pearl and Harry, Laura has her hands full, but she has dreams of her own. Having completed a college degree before marriage, Laura is at a point in her life where she feels she can once again seek something of her own, outside of the home. She enrolls in the Columbia School of Journalism, a year-long program, hoping to get her journalism degree and obtain a job at a newspaper. Bringing in more money to the household would be of great benefit to the family and allow her to have a career.

Laura’s pursuit of her journalism degree brings her to involvement in the women’s rights movement in NYC, to its heart in Greenwich Village, and exposes her to ideas and women who want more out of life than previously defined roles of wife and mother. It’s all fascinating to Laura, and it appeals to her longing for a self-worth she could have as an independent woman. As Laura gets deeper into the world of women’s rights and Jack gets closer to his finished manuscript, problems arise at the library. Books have gone missing, and not just any books, rare, one-of-a-kind books kept in a locked stacks area of the library. The library hires a private investigator, and nerves are frayed as suspicions are cast. 

In 1993, Sadie works as a curator in the New York Public Library in the Berg collection, a collection that contains rare first edition books, letters and journals of authors, and other primary literary resources. An important exhibit is coming up for the Berg Collection, one which needs to impress donors and patrons. Sadie finds herself in charge of the exhibit after her boss abruptly leaves to take another job. Sadie is thrilled and is determined to create a stunning presentation of how important the Berg collection is as a keeper of literary and library history. Then, the thefts begin and threaten to derail everything Sadie has worked so hard to achieve. Just like in 1913, it is a theft of rare books, including a page from Shakespeare’s First Portfolio. 

Sadie knows she will have to solve the mystery of the missing items, and it becomes clear that she will have to take on the mystery of the 1913 missing books, too. History has repeated itself, and Sadie has kept a secret from her employers, the New York City Public Library, that places her right in the middle of that history. No one at the library knows that Sadie is the granddaughter of Laura Lyons. With the similarities in the rare book thefts, it’s a secret that may finally have to be told. In another repeat of history, the library hires a private detective to root out the thief, but the current investigation will see a cooperative spirit between library employee Sadie and the detective. Of course, there’s no guarantee the relationship will stay that course.

The Lions of Fifth Avenue is historical fiction, but with the added mystery of missing books and wily thieves. I was thrilled to learn more about this iconic landmark, The New York Public Library, as its history is so rich and enduring. From the famous lions, now called Patience and Fortune, to the ephemera of the treasured collections, this book tells a story of what stands the test of time. It is a story that reaches back 80 years to connect two women, both who long to make a difference and struggle against the odds life has dealt them. And, it is the story of a family’s struggle to discover and accept truths that have stayed buried for those eight decades.

I highly recommend this book to those who love reading and libraries and history and mystery. The author Fiona Davis has written more historical fiction books about New York City icons of history, and I’m looking forward to reading them all.

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths: Reading Room Review

   

 

 

 

 

     

 

    

I have not met a book by Elly Griffiths that I don’t love. What a reader’s dream come true, to have a favorite author who always nails it. Of course, my first love is the Ruth Galloway series, as it came to me when I was attending my first Bouchercon conference and meeting Elly for the first time and being completely enthralled by both. I had just read A Dying Fall back in August of 2013, and I was still gushing over it. Ruth is the perfect imperfect character for me, and the stories created around her define great mystery/crime reading. Now here we are at book #13, The Night Hawks, and Elly Griffiths has given readers what is sure to be a favorite for all Ruth’s fervent fans. 

I must note that it is impossible to review this series without spoilers for those who are just starting the series, so it’s best to read any review of the books as you progress through them, not before. In other words, don’t read further if you aren’t up to speed in the series. I want all readers to enjoy each development in each book in its natural flow and gobsmacking moments.

Ruth is now back in Norfolk in her cottage by the sea. At the end of book #12, The Lantern Men, she had left her job as a lecturer at Cambridge, where she had moved with Frank for two years to try and start a new life. But, it is Norfolk and her beloved marshland that will forever hold Ruth’s heart, as well as Harry Nelson. She has been fortunate to time her return when Phil Trent, her old boss, has retired from the head of the archeology department at the University of North Norfolk. The head job seems a natural progression, as over the years Ruth has represented the department in her ties to and work in the community. She is even able to keep teaching, something she enjoys.

Kate, Ruth’s ten-year-old daughter, has adapted from the two years in Cambridge back to Norfolk easily, falling back in step with school and her friends. Ruth and Kate and cantankerous cat Flint are all back to their old routines that no longer include Frank, who has returned to America. Kate is thrilled to have Nelson, her father, back in her life more, and, of course, Ruth has finally admitted to herself that seeing Nelson will forever give her pleasure, even though he still lives with his wife Michelle. Nelson also seems to have conceded that seeing Ruth and talking to her is something he looks forward to. But, the barriers are still up to anything more.

The name of the book, The Night Hawks, refers to the quasi-archeologists who gather at night to use their metal detectors and “knowledge” to search for treasures from the fertile grounds of buried ancient artifacts. They often go out in a group, searching along the seacoast and marshes. One night a group of local night hawks comes across a body that has washed up to shore, obviously dead, but without identification and no clear cause of death, other than drowning. The police are called in, and as it’s the middle of the night, DCI Nelson takes the call as the responder for the Norfolk Police Serious Crimes Unit. The body is at first assumed to be an asylum seeker who had a bad end.

The Night Hawks also have stumbled across a site of human bones close to the body of the dead man. Ruth is called in to excavate the site of the skeleton, her expertise always bringing forth fascinating information in the story about the myriad of people who inhabited the land thousands of years earlier. This particular excavation may bring information about a group called the Beakers, invaders who are thought to have brought a deadly virus to the area and wiped out the local inhabitants over 4,000 years ago. The human initially thought to be an asylum seeker turns out to be a local man who recently got out of prison. His identity will prove of more interest as the story develops.

And, the action keeps coming, with another late night call out for Nelson. This time it’s to an isolated farm, Black Dog Farm, where two Night Hawks, part of the group involved in finding the dead man on the beach, have called in hearing multiple gun shots from the farmhouse. Upon investigation, it’s found that two people are dead from those gun shots. The setting of Black Dog Farm will be a large part of the mystery, with tentacles of connection reaching near and far. Ruth becomes involved in an excavation of the farmhouse yard that answers questions, but not the expected ones. As with all the books in this series, the author masterfully lets readers know that there is danger right around the corner, but we are still thrillingly surprised when it strikes. 

My reviews of this series inevitably reach a point where I extol the brilliance of the author’s characters. Ruth has struggled in her quiet way as she searches for a personal life as fulfilling as her professional one. I feel like she’s finally accepting what she can and can’t change about herself and her world. Nelson, who would guffaw at the word growth, has shown himself capable of an emotional growth readers wouldn’t have believed possible in the beginning. And, the supporting cast of the series has brought us the fan favorite of Cathbad, the captivating Druid, whom Griffiths has integrated so smoothly into the lives of Ruth and Nelson. The police officers Nelson commands—Judy and Tanya and newcomer Tony and moved-on Cloughie (moved on but still around)—bring their own stories and drama to the case at hand, which enrich and often relate to it. Even Michelle is no longer the cardboard cutout pretty wife from the beginning. She has been shaken to the core, and had to face some harsh realities of life. And, can it really have been ten years, almost eleven, since Kate was born. She is now becoming a character in her own right, too. Smart, perceptive, kind, and inquisitive. I can’t wait to see what Elly Griffiths does with Kate as the child becomes a pre-teen and then a teen. The same care and attention to detail is taken with the development of new characters for each story. In The Night Hawks, readers are introduced to David Brown, whom Ruth hires to replace her as a lecturer at NNU. It’s a twisted, intriguing road the author leads us on with David before we know what he’s about. In short, there is simply no author writing that does characters any better than Elly Griffiths. 

Another element that makes this series so exceptional is the inclusion of the myths and legends Norfolk is famous for. Who better to guide us through these oddities of interest than Cathbad, whose Druid beliefs predisposes him to have great respect for the history and importance of these tales. His knowledge of the area and its otherworldly connections is an invaluable aid to the police in helping solve some of their cases, especially in conjunction with Ruth’s findings. Of particular interest in The Night Hawks is the legend of the Black Dog or the Black Shuck, a giant black dog whose red glowing eyes are a portent of death when someone sees him. And, he is seen more than once in this story, as the body count piles up. The clever weaving of the legends into the storylines is one of my favorite aspects of the Ruth Galloway mysteries. Elly Griffiths seems to accomplish this integration with perfection, creating the suggestion of other forces at play, but never an outright declaration of their effect. The setting of the saltmarshes is cleverly used to its best advantage of being a place that can be magical and spiritual. 

There is lots happening in this thirteenth book of the Ruth Galloway series. Elly Griffiths has given us yet another multi-layered tale with plenty of action and plenty of emotion. And, as always, she has left us wanting more. In fact, readers shouldn’t be surprised if they find themselves wanting to reread The Night Hawks. I don’t often read a book twice, as there are just so many books I’m trying to get to, but I do plan to read The Night Hawks again. It spoke to me that strongly, and I think readers, especially the many already established fans, will find this book unforgettable. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin for an advanced copy of The Night Hawks.

 

 

 

Furbidden Fatality by Deborah Blake: Reading Room Review

 

When I was asked to read and review Furbidden Fatality, I looked up its description and knew I would be happy to read it. It’s about someone reopening an animal sanctuary, and I am currently looking for a rescue dog, after our sweet rescue Brittany Spaniel Coco died a year ago. And, Furbidden Fatality is a murder mystery amid all the wonderful dogs and cats, so you get cute and cuddly and escalating suspense all in one package. It’s heartwarming while full of dangerous sleuthing. The author Deborah Blake has written books in other genres before, but Furbidden Fatality is her first mystery novel. Her writing chops show in the creation of this entertaining story. 

Kari Stuart already loves cats and dogs when she finds a stray black kitten around her apartment building. But, as she has two cats and a dog in her small apartment, keeping the kitten is just not possible. So, she does the responsible thing and takes the kitten to a shelter, but the shelter is full. Although the name of another shelter, a rescue sanctuary, is mentioned, it’s also a shelter that is in the process of closing down due to lack of funds, so its also is taking no animals. 

What to do? Well, if you’re a twenty-nine-year-old woman, recently divorced, animal lover who has recently won five million dollars in the lottery, and you’re looking for a purpose in life, you buy the run-down animal sanctuary to fix up. So, that’s what Kari does, and, of course, she keeps the kitten, whom she names “Queenie.” How could she not keep her destiny director? This story is on track to its happy ending, right? Well, not so fast. While Kari has bought a new beginning in life, even with a house on site in which she can live with her pets, she has also bought into some complicated problems, including a staff of volunteers with one distrustful member, a sanctuary building that needs lots of repairs and upgrades, a dog named Buster that has his head on the chopping block, and a dog warden who doesn’t seem to like dogs much.

Bill Myers, the aforementioned dog warden, does indeed prove to be a dedicated enemy of Serenity Sanctuary. Kari has her first real taste of just how nasty he can be at the hearing for Buster, the sweet pit bull, Meyers has ticketed and accused of biting a man. As the new owner of the sanctuary, Kari must help plead the case for Buster’s exoneration, as no one at the sanctuary or who has met Buster believes he bit someone. Myers is determined to send Buster off to be euthanized, like he’s done to too many other dogs in the area, but the case is continued and not decided the night of the court date. Myers is livid, and he and Kari have words outside of the court. Kari knows she has a formidable enemy, but then she finds that enemy, Bill Myers, dead by her animal sanctuary building in the wee hours following the court appearance. Now, the problems really begin. While Kari was seen having an argument with Myers, there are plenty of people in small-town Lakeview who had grudges against the ruthless dog warden. However, being at the top of the list of suspects is a big incentive for Kari and her friends to start investigating on their own. What they uncover will shock everyone, including law enforcement.

I thoroughly enjoyed Furbidden Fatality. It is solidly written, with a well-paced ascension to the murder resolution, characters who evoke an immediate attachment and investment, a story-line that tugs at the heart and screams for justice, and the personification of the animals, especially “Queenie” into personalities we adore. The setting of a small town in the upper New York state Catskills is a lovely place for readers to land. And, there is the humor the author deftly interjects. It’s one of the elements that endears the characters and animals to us so much. An early indication of this humor occurs in a conversation between Kari and her best friend and local dog groomer Suz. 

     Kari: I might be crazy—the jury is still out on that. 

     Suz: You bought an animal sanctuary so you wouldn’t have to keep this kitten? I think the jury can  come back in.

 

Add to all the other reasons to read this book a gorgeous cover and a catchy alliterative title, and I am certain that Deborah Blake’s first mystery and first in the Catskills Pet Rescue mysteries is going to be “fur”vently received by mystery readers. I can’t wait until the next addition to this series.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths: Reading Room Review

                                                     

The popularity and appeal of the older, sagacious female sleuths or mystery solving figures has always been a much-loved part of the mystery/crime genre. Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple was my first favorite amateur detective. Murder She Wrote continued giving credence to the reliability of the older woman sleuth in its lead role, Jessica Fletcher. Most recently, Richard Osman’s book The Thursday Murder Club centers around a group of septuagenarian sleuths, equal parts women and men, who are up to the task of resolving the question of whodunit. And, now one of my favorite contemporary authors Elly Griffiths in her novel The Postscript Murders gives us the character of Peggy Smith, who is known as the “murder consultant” by mystery authors who are having plot problems.

It’s a unique twist though, because the aged murder expert has herself been murdered, and the plot leading up to it must be discovered. It is up to Peggy’s Shoreham-by-Sea friends, who include 80 year old Edwin, Peggy’s care worker Natalka, and coffee shack owner Benedict to piece together what they realize is anything but a natural death. Finding a postcard in Peggy’s desk with the threatening message of “We are coming for you” seals the deal for the friends in determining that it’s murder that has brought about Peggy’s demise. 

The Postscript Murders opens to a still living Peggy writing in her observation journal with what she is seeing one day out of her seaside view window. There are two men she is watching who seem to be out of place in the neighborhood. Peggy lives in a retirement home, Seaview, but she’s still as sharp as ever, even at 90. However, she has reached the point in life where she must have a care worker come in and do certain basic services for her. When the care worker Natalka arrives for her afternoon duties on this particular day, she finds Peggy sitting in her chair by the window, dead. Nothing seems out of place, and Natalka calls her supervisor to report the death, thinking the death was just a case of Peggy’s advanced age. Then, Natalka begins to look around Peggy’s desk. Finding the postcard with the sinister message and encountering a masked gunman when she and Benedict are sorting through Peggy’s books puts a whole new spin on the murder consultant’s death. 

DS Harbinder Kaur, last seen in The Stranger Diaries, returns in The Postscript Murders to the delight of Elly Griffiths’ readers. Although in her thirties, Harbinder still lives with her parents, but readers get a closer look in this book at the dynamics of the Kaur family, showing how it’s possible for this arrangement to work well for everyone. Natalka takes her suspicions about Peggy’s death to the Detective Sergeant, and it isn’t long until Harbinder is investigating what really brought about the elderly woman’s death. When one of the authors Peggy helped is also found dead, of a gunshot, the group of friends is off running, as far as to Aberdeen to a Literary Festival, to find answers. Harbinder, while working with Peggy’s friends, is trying to keep police procedure at the forefront of her investigation. The friends, not so much.

The story is told from the multiple viewpoints of Harbinder, Natalka, Edwin, and Benedict. Elly Griffiths is brilliant at character development, and we come to know these characters through their separate narrations. It seems Natalka has the most secrets in the group, but she has some rather stiff (ouch) competition from the dead Peggy. And, although murder is a serious business, there is humor in the telling, too, especially in parts dealing with Harbinder’s family and her police partner Neil, whom Harbinder often compares to a squirrel. Readers can always count on Elly Griffiths to provide the most captivating characters, ones generating an emotionally vested interest with the reader. And while the characters do drive this story, the mystery itself is always at the center of the action. 

With this second book featuring Harbinder Kaur, we know have been gifted with three separate outstanding series from Elly Griffiths. Her first series, the Ruth Galloway series, has a special place in my reading heart, and her Stephens and Mephisto series never fails to intrigue me. Of course, this prolific author even has a children’s series, too. Justice Jones has two books so far, and I am absolutely charmed by it. The Postscript Murders has solidified the Harbinder Kaur series as another one to mark on your calendars for a yearly thrill.

Thanks to Quercus and Net Galley for an advanced copy of The Postscript Murders. 

  

A Girl Called Justice: The Smugglers' Secret by Elly Griffiths: Reading Room Review

 

Justice Jones: Secrets of Smuggler’s Inn is the second book in Elly Griffiths’ Justice Jones children’s mystery series. Yes, that Elly Griffiths, the brilliant author of the Ruth Galloway series, the Stephens and Mephisto (the Brighton) series, and the Harbinder Kaur series that have been on mystery/crime best selling and award lists for years. Now, with this children’s series, which is also a great read for adults, the author has given children and young adults a jump start on reading great mystery stories. 

I got the same sense of thrilling suspense from reading both Justice Jones books as I did reading The Westing Game, my favorite young adult mystery up until now. I can’t imagine any better books to instill the love of mysteries in a young reader than Griffiths’ new adventures. While set in England in 1937, they are completely relatable, as the only effect seems to be no cell phones, which would be all the rage for pre-teens and teens now. I find that a refreshing absence, and I think all readers of this series will, too. A dropped note is far more thrilling than a text message, any day or creepy night of the week. 

Justice Jones has returned for her second term at Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. Although Justice would rather stay with her barrister father in their London house, she has the advantage of entering the spring term with some established friends and an understanding of the rules, which of course doesn’t keep her from breaking them. Justice’s two best friends are Stella, who is a roommate in her pod of five girls, and Dorothy, who is a maid at the school. Dorothy is only three years older than Justice’s twelve years and is as big a fan of mysteries and investigating them as Justice is. Stella, although not as enthusiastic about sneaking around trying to solve a mystery when it occurs, does support Justice in her curiosity. And, of course, there are mysteries aplenty this term, starting with the new matron, Miss Robinson, who doesn’t seem to recognize a broken bone when she sees one. 

The headmistress, Miss de Verre, has decided the 2nd Levels class should volunteer in the village community this term, and Justice has been assigned to help an older gentleman named Mr. Arthur, who lives in Smugglers’ Lodge. Of course, Smugglers’ Lodge is rumored to be haunted. Mr. Arthur is blind and at first he just wants Justice to read the papers to him, but they develop a friendship and start using their one afternoon a week together to talk. He requests a favor of Justice, and it is one she jumps at the chance of undertaking, as it involves a mystery, and Justice is all about the mystery. Mr. Arthur is trying to connect with his adult daughter with whom he lost contact years ago, and he thinks she might be at Highbury. Justice is delighted to start investigating who it could be, and it coincides nicely with Justice’s puzzlement of why Miss Robinson is sneaking around at night and why the forbidden basement at Highbury seems to be attracting certain teachers’ interests.

To reveal anymore of the story would rob readers of the same pleasures of discovery I had, and I never want to do that. I can add that there is a murder, which shouldn’t be too surprising. There’s a new Games Master, Miss Heron, and, Justice finds out she’s not hopeless at athletic activities, although she still and forever hates lacrosse, and Justice discovers other abilities she has, outside of being an ace detective. Justice shows lots of growth in this book, with a nod to the future of a well-balanced person and productive adult. She is a highly likeable character, and how she handles the challenges she faces endears her to the readers even more. 

So, if hidden tunnels and disorienting fog and secrets around every corner and people who go bump in the night catch your interests, this second Justice Jones book is right up your mystery alley. Did I mention towers with mysterious lights? As a delightful bonus to it all is an inclusion of the blueprint of the Highbury House and a list of the cast of characters. This bundle of thrilling mystery is bound together in a cover (both books) that can only be described as a work of art. Share this series with your children or grandchildren but be sure to buy a copy for yourself. I do.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley: Reading Room Review

I am a big fan of the locked room mystery scenario, which extends itself to the isolated island mystery. Of course, the most well-known isolated island mystery is Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, a story that gets chilling fast. More recently, Rachel Howzell Hall’s gripping They All Fall Down presented an island of select invitees to a gathering of deadly consequences. And, now I have another favorite in this remote island setting where once again the secrets the guests carry lead to murder. The Guest List by Lucy Foley is an outstanding addition to the locked room/remote island collection. 

Will Slater and Julia/Jules Keegan are a golden couple, rising stars in their respective worlds of television and magazine publishing. So, Jules knows that the setting for their wedding must be special, unique and unforgettable. After an only-the-unique-apply search for a venue, she awards the prize wedding to a wedding planner who offers the distinctive location of a remote island off the Irish coast. The island contains a recently restored stone house with ten bedrooms, so the wedding party can all stay overnight after the rehearsal dinner and before the next day’s big wedding. Aoife, the wedding planner, and her husband Freddy, the chef, will need to make sure everything is perfect for Jules’ dream wedding, as she will accept nothing less. Jules is happy to have gotten a huge discount on the venue and services because it is the first wedding being held there, and Jules also agreed to feature it in her magazine. Will, who is the star of the "Survive the Night" television series, is pleased that the outdoor wedding at the ruins of the island’s small church will jive with his outdoors image he projects to the public. 

The wedding party contains the ushers, all in their thirties, who were at school with Will at Trevellyan’s, an all-boys school where Will’s father was headmaster. The wedding seems to take them back to their youth, which isn’t necessarily a good thing for the wedding. The best man, Johnno, is especially a reminder of something Will wants left in the past. Jules has a lone bridesmaid, her half-sister Olivia, who brings her problems of a bad breakup with her and causes Jules to be even more irritated with her sister than usual. The bright spot for Jules is her long-time friend Charlie, who is to be the master of ceremonies. His wife, Hannah, who is largely left on her own by Charlie, develops a friendship with Olivia, as Hannah understands what a bad ending to a relationship can do to someone. But, there is so much hidden and buried within the characters, secrets that need to be told, but secrets that can have dire consequences. It’s a weekend of Russian roulette in never knowing when or if a secret will explode. And, the biggest secret of all is who has been murdered, a clever departure from the normal order, and the reader doesn’t discover who the victim is until late into the story. Trying to guess the identities of both the murdered and the murderer is quite fun, as those secrets of so many make it challenging. 

Lucy Foley has created a character driven tale that has layer after layer peeled back to reveal the horrors of lives ruined and lives interrupted. The characters are so well fleshed out in the narrative due largely to the story being told by five of those characters—Aoife, Hannah, Olivia, Johnno, and Jules. Through their narrations, the reader gains not only a great insight to those characters, but also to the other supporting cast. The secrets run deep, and once they start unraveling, they are gasp worthy. The big twist that comes at the end is a shocker. Foley has paced this story well to accelerate the suspense at just the right moments. The revelations come forth with stunning impact, and the reader will be caught off guard more than once. I think this is Foley’s best book yet.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: Reading Room Review

 

What a great adventure with the septuagenarians who call themselves The Thursday Murder Club at Coopers Chase Retirement Village. It’s an idyllic setting in Kent, England, with open space and country air. A luxury retirement home that has been built out from an original ancient building that used to be a nunnery. Throw in for atmosphere, and later more, the nun’s cemetery on the hill, and it is a lovely place indeed for a murder mystery or two.

The four quirky septuagenarians who gather every Thursday to discuss murder are sharper and more resourceful than anyone would initially give them credit for. It’s a closed group, meeting under the covert name of a Japanese Opera study group, which discourages any newcomers. Elizabeth informally heads the group, and her past life is anybody’s guess, but that guess would have to include travel to many parts of the world and a contact in every port. Joyce is a former nurse who is recruited to join the group after it’s been in operation for a bit, and who is the perfect hostess with plenty of hidden talent. Ibrahim is a retired psychiatrist who is methodical and thoughtful about his actions, a calming presence when needed. Ron is retired from his union job in which he fought hard for others, and who has a famous ex-boxer for a son. Ron’s plain-spoken manner gets to the heart of matters. The member of the group whom Joyce has replaced is Penny Gray, a retired Detective Inspector who now lies comatose in the wing of Cooper’s Chase where she can no longer participate in anything. It was Penny’s cold cases that were the basis for the Murder Club’s beginning. However, the group soon gets a fresh murder on their agenda, and they could not be more thrilled. 

By chance, the residents of the retirement home receive a visit from Donna DeFreitas, a local police constable, sent to deliver a talk on security. Elizabeth and her friends have ideas for a less boring talk, and Donna gets her first taste of just how unconventional “old” people can be. There’s life in those old bones yet. The Murder Club and PC DeFreitas quickly meet up again when one of the partners in developing Cooper’s Chase, Tony Curran, is found murdered. Three of the Murder Club had witnessed an argument between Tony and the other developer/owner, Ian Ventham. 

The members of the Murder Club know that they can’t miss out on solving this murder that’s happened practically under their noses. Of course, as Elizabeth knows from experience, you need a source on the inside of the action, and she cleverly is responsible for getting Donna assigned to the murder case. Donna’s boss, DCI Chris Hudson, is exactly the right person to run this murder investigation, as he isn’t invested in his ego and listens to Donna, and eventually the Murder Club gang. When there is a second murder, it takes all the heads together to dig down to the truth. 

The characters are what drive this book, this adventure of murder solving. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron find friendship and purpose in their “golden” years by using their brains and individual skills to show just how valuable they are. We come to know this group as interesting, vital people, not ready to be put out to pasture or ignored. Of course, they must deal with the mortality of their friends, and they can’t help but think about their own at times. Yet, the reader will see far more optimism here than negativity. And, there are younger characters, too, who make this story sing. The give and take in the relationship between Donna and Chris is delivered brilliantly through their entertaining dialogue. Donna has arrived in her boss’ life at just the right time for him, and the Murder Club has made a timely arrival in Donna’s life as well.

One of the vehicles author Richard Osman uses in The Thursday Murder Club to move the action forward is Joyce’s journaling. Her journal entries fill in blanks for us and help to bring loose ends together in what the Murder Club is doing in their investigation. It also gives us a more personal and fleshed out view of Joyce, such as her relationship with her daughter. The journal serves as a smooth segue from one scene to another, while enhancing our emotional investment in the characters.

Charming, witty, thrilling, heartwarming, heartbreaking. The Thursday Murder Club encompasses all those qualities, giving readers a great story with unforgettable characters. Layers of intrigue to sort through as the murders are solved, and more than one suspenseful moment when you wonder if our aging sleuths will escape a dangerous situation. I can absolutely see this capable cast of characters in a TV series, which also means more books, please. Richard Osman’s debut novel is one that readers don’t want to miss.

Riviera Gold (Russell and Holmes #16) by Laurie R. King: Reading Room Review

 

A new Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes book from Laurie King is always a cause for celebration. For those of us who are rabid fans, or BEEKS, it is one of the reading events we live for. This series has inspired so many readers to expand their enjoyment of the Sherlock Holmes adventures. Laurie King has created an exciting extension of the Sherlock Holmes stories, giving him a young wife, who is equal to the challenge of solving mysteries and curbing the criminal element. The settings in the series have taken us from England to Jerusalem to Japan, and in Riviera Gold, we travel to the south of France and Monaco. 

Also included in the author’s extended world for Sherlock Holmes is the shaping of a life for the ubiquitous, but seemingly invisible, Mrs. Hudson. In the broadened world of Russell and Holmes, Mrs. Hudson is given an adventurous past with surprisingly unsavory elements. It is the fascinating past and present of Mrs. Hudson that this latest entry into the series goes, with the background being set up in the next-to-last book, The Murder of Mary Russell. I recommend that you read that book before this one.

Having finished their business in Venice (Island of the Mad), Sherlock takes off for Romania, but Mary joins in the sailing party with her good friend the Hon. Terry and his gang for the south of France. Mary has an ulterior motive for the trip, as she thinks it is to Monaco Mrs. Hudson traveled when she left Sussex and England forever. Mary arrives in the south of France and meets the Murphys, Gerald and Sara, who have a home in Antibes, where Mary and her friends are staying at a hotel. It is the Jazz Age (1920s) and the time of the Lost Generation, so it’s a time of great change and new direction. The gatherings at the Murphys are a who’s who in young artists and writers of that time—Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and more. Gerald and Sara Murphy have created an artistic haven for creative minds, which in itself is an amazing story.

And, the Murphys gathering on the beach with friends is where Mary, on her first full day on the French Riviera, runs into Mrs. Hudson. Mary shows great restraint when she’s surprised to find Mrs. Hudson so quickly, but she saves their reunion for when they’re alone. As it happens, Mrs. Hudson, who now appears as a woman of elegance and sophistication, will need Mary’s help and eventually Sherlock’s, too. Mrs. Hudson’s past is rearing its ugly head as well as its elegant one, and she finds herself suspected of a murder. Before answers can be found, there will be rumors of a lost fortune, the appearance of White Russians, and the delight of Lily Langtree. Add to that the arts community in neighboring Antibes, including a trip to a bronze pour, and the excitement is at an all-time high

One of the aspects of Riviera Gold I enjoyed the most was the independence that Mary shows in it. It is very much her book and her direction that guides the action of the story. Readers of the series are already cognizant of how valuable a team member Mary is in her and Sherlock’s sleuthing and missions, but this book shows Mary coming into her own, a freeing of the spirit in a sense. While Sherlock shows up and is a part of their investigation into the murder, it is Mary who shines. The evolution of the personal relationship between Russell and Holmes will be interesting to follow. 

Laurie King always gives readers a great story and great characters. She also does an enormous amount of research which flows smoothly through the historical details of her books. Riviera Gold was a goldmine of interesting historical connections that led me to do more reading myself. Gerald and Sara Murphy, who relocated from America to the French Riviera in the 1920s, were instrumental in furthering the careers of major writers and artists. I found myself fascinated by them and their Villa America and had to read more about them. The whole book is full of historical gems. 

I highly recommend this sixteenth addition to one of my favorite series. I’m looking forward to the continuing exploits of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.

My Favorite Reads of 2020

 

 In a year of outstanding books to read, I suffered from the malady of so many of my fellow readers, the inability to focus and thus to read.  Oh, I did manage to read, but the number of books I read was down, and in a richness of reading year, that hurts.  Unfortunately, my reviewing and blogging was negatively affected, too, but I'm up and running with that again.  Let's face it.  2020 was not a normal year at all for readers and authors.  Virtual book promotion, learning to use Zoom (well, I'm still working on it), authors online book publishing birthdays.  But, the reading community, in particular the mystery crime community, is a resilient group who are passionate about their cause, so we have not only survived, we've thrived, gotten closer.  Even though my reading count was down, what I read was a  constant source of enjoyment.  It was hard to narrow down any favorites, because all the books I read were enjoyable.  So, my list is long, but it includes the ones I enjoyed the very most.  A couple of the books were published in 2019, but the rest are 2020 publications.  I will have quite a few more 2020 publications that I will feature in another list after I've read them.

 

                                             

       

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