Returning to the Classics of Mystery

I listened to books two of my favorite mystery writers this week:
Clouds of Witnesses by Dorothy Sayers and Peril at End House by Agatha Christie

Sometimes we need to revisit the classics to get an understanding of the craft. Both are set in the "between the wars" time in Britain and have the atmosphere of that time. While Christie quickly gets to the mystery and the red herrings, Sayers takes her time, including a long recital of the crime at the end of the trial.

Although modern mysteries are usually short cozy series or long thrillers, the basics of mystery writing can still be found in the masters.

Five witchy hats to both of these greats.

Whale Season - N.M. Kelby

This book is not about whales. You need to know this right up front.
It's not about Jesus - not the Biblical one - not much. But Jesus is a main character.
So is an American Dream - an RV - and an Airstream...
And a cast of characters that keep you turning the pages just to see what they're going to do next.
And what they do is nothing that you can even imagine they will do.
"Whale Season" is both funny and wise and let's you into the heart of the human condition.
Five Witchy Hats to Nicole Kelby and "Whale Season".
I'm looking forward to ready more of her work

Scottoline Scores! Again

I admit it. Okay?
I'm a fan.
Lisa Scottoline could write a cereal box and I would give it five witchy hats.
I started listening to her books. Then I started reading her books. Then I started going to hear her speak.
I guess the next thing is to stalk her. But I'm smarter than that...I hope.
This is an emotional book that pulls you in and keeps you right there with the main character, Ellen, and her quest for the truth about her adopted son, knowing that the truth could ruin her life.
This is a book about love and truth and why you need to search for both, no matter what the consequences.
And, in case Lisa reads this and I haven't said it enough: "Thanks, again, sweetie for writing "Killer Smile".
Five witchy hats to our Lisa.

Terminal Freeze - Lincoln Child

For some reason I've developed a love of anything to do with the Arctic (and the Antarctic). Not that I love freezing weather, but I've lately found myself watching "Ice Road Truckers." It must be the extreme conditions that are so fascinating.

Child's book has the extreme conditions all right. But it also has the Child fast pace thriller suspense. Even though I had an idea what was coming, I found myself not wanting to put the book down. A definite page-turner. I hesitate to say, "Chilling..."

Now I "need" the audio version of "Cemetery Dance" - a Child/Preston book for my next long business trip. If you want to be entertained, Lincoln Child or Lincoln Child with Douglas Preston are two gentlemen who can do it.

Five fur-lined witchy hats to Lincoln Child - keep me scared and on the edge of my seat - I love it there.

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

It takes a lot to impress me with a debut novel. The Thirteenth Tale did it and now Kate Morton has done it with The House at Riverton.

This is definitely a period piece. It could have been written during the time period of the story - the mood, the environment, the characters all reflect England during and between the World Wars. I'm not finished the book - I want it to last and last. I never want to leave this family - but I know eventually I'll get to the end and have the memories of a wonderful read.

I m admit I'm an Anglophile and love anything about England - especially during this time period. I would have wanted to be Helen Herriott helping in the surgery before WWII; but I was born too late.

Now I'm living vicariously through the family who occupies The House at Riverton. I will definitely read anything and everything written by Morton, a native Australian.

Five witchy hats - tossed high in the air for this wonderful book

Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz

I have more than a passing knowledge of what happens while someone waits for a heart transplant. Unfortunately, no knowledge of the aftermath.

However, Koontz's novel traces both sides and adds the supernatural and a mystery with his well-known skill.

I stayed up to finish this book and the ending was not one I expected - or wanted. It was pure Koontz - but with a moral - especially during a time when the "greed is good" phenomena is fading - fast.

Five witchy hats to Your Heart Belongs to Me.

Patient Zero - Jonathan Maberry

Note to self: Do not read a book (albeit fictional) about terrorists while in an airplane.

But that is exactly where I did read Jonathan Maberry's latest thriller. I was flying to and from Seattle and "Patient Zero" was my escape.

And a great escape (...ahem...) it is. There is plenty of action - plenty. So much that it was hard to catch my breath.

Maberry knows how to "up the ante" and to make those later chapters, as he moves quickly to the climax, short and full of drama.

I loved Maberry's Ghost Road Blues triology for it's language - but I love Patient Zero for its action.

I'm looking forward to the next "Joe Ledger" thriller - and maybe, just maybe, a movie.

Five Witchy Hats - a keeper.

Undead and Uneasy - MaryJanice Davidson

On the lighter side....

Remember when e-books came in those very small disks that fit inside the center of your disk drive? Seems like decades ago - but actually only a few years.

In those few years MaryJanice Davidson has become a "name" in paranormal romance. Rightfully so.

I read her first published book, "Undead and Unwed", on one of those mini-disks.

Her last (I hope not) - let's say latest- in the Betsy Taylor, Queen of the Vampires, series, "Undead and Uneasy" was also on a disk - an audio one. I listened to it while driving and found myself laughing out loud and trying not to hit the potholes that grow in Pennsylvania winters.

You would think that being Queen of the friggin' Vampires would give a girl confidence. Well, not so, our Betsy. It looks like her host of paranormal characters living in King Eric's mansion (and even Eric, her beloved) have disappeared on her and so has Eric, only days before their "real" wedding - albeit with wedding cake Betsy can't eat. Well, she IS a vampire.

Davidson makes the series' unusual cast of characters realistic and Betsy's problems seem almost...well...normal.

For a laugh and a bit of romance, five witchy hats to "Undead and Uneasy" and not just because the title made my shrink laugh.

Voluntary Madness - My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin - Nora Vincent

I was perusing the cart of the books at the Allentown Library when I came across this title and immediately picked it up. I'd recognized it probably because I'd read about it somewhere - possibly in the New York Times Book Review. I don't remember the review. I remembered the title and the subject.

Norah Vincent is the author of "Self-Made Man", a recounting of her time spent living as a man - reminiscent of the famous "Black Like Me".

Unlike "Self-Made Man", Vincent didn't have to take on the mantle of mental illness to write this book. She'd already spent some time in (in her words) "the bin" for major depression. The reader discovers, along with Vincent, as she travels through the psychiatric inpatient system (only for journalism at first) at various levels of payment (not care), the reasons behind this depression.

We also discover, with the author, how she decides to manage her illness.

I was captured by the eloquent yet clear narrative and as an RN and someone diagnosed with major depression, I found the book eye-opening and inspiring.

Five witchy hats (out of five) to Vincent's newest piece of reality journalism. I only hope she doesn't decide to write a book about surviving heart surgery.