Month: June 2021

I adore The Once and Future King; this is T H White’s retelling of the story of Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere.

The title of this novel cleverly has several meanings. The most obvious refers to combinations on safes as the novel’s protagonist, Ellie, is a talented (sometimes on the wrong side of the law) safe cracker. It could also refer to some of her relationships which might seem a bit unconventional, as for example, Ellie’s with the government agent who first entraps but later takes Ellie on as more of a partner.

The setting is wartime England. There are concerns about spies, traitors and secret documents…and, of course, there is murder. Will documents get into the wrong hands? Will the traitors and/or spies be caught? How will Ellie fare in her relationships? Read the novel to find out.

What is done well in this book: The characters-I cared about Ellie, her uncle, her cousins (one of whom is MIA), her friend Felix and others. Less well done in my opinion was getting an authentic sense of the time perios in the novel; I knew it was the 1940s but would have welcomed more details; I feel that this would have made a good book, even better.

Kudos to the author for introducing readers to a new character. I hope that readers will see more of Ellie.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

by Kerry Greenwood

Welcome back Phryne and Dot! A new novel with these beloved characters is always cause for rejoicing. This time, Phryne and Dot make their way to a spa for recovering WWI soldiers. It may sound like a peaceful retreat but series regulars know that mayhem is sure to follow, along with a resolution by the end of the novel.

Readers who enjoy fashion, wit and spas are sure to love this latest entry in the series. After reading this, many will look for other titles by Ms. Greenwood or they may want to watch the Miss Fisher mysteries on Acorn TV. Whichever way readers choose to encounter Phryne, they can’t go wrong.

Also note the gorgeous cover of this novel. The artwork is magnificent and Miss Fisher shines.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

A Visual Directory of 100 of the Most Popular Songbirds

Pub Date 29 Jun 2021

During Covid I often went for walks at my local botanical garden. While there, I saw and heard a number of birds. I recognized a few-robins, cardinals, sparrows, red tailed hawks and several more but I always wished that I knew more. In terms of sounds, I recognized a woodpecker and that was about it.

This book was created for folks like me although even those with more knowledge can also enjoy this title. There is a helpful introduction about why, how, when and where songbirds may be found. The book goes on to include lots of songbirds in categories, as for example, larks swallows, jays, nuthatches, wood warblers, tangers and many more. Readers enjoyment of the text is enhanced by the many detailed illustrations.

This book also has information on topics including making feeders and homes for birds. Some of these projects will undoubtedly lead to even more enjoyment as birds could land right in a reader’s backyard.

This title is an excellent resource for learning about birds. There is plenty of information on each bird that is featured within these pages. For example, take the Olive-sided Flycatcher. I now know where they can be found, what their song is like, how they behave, what they eat and more. There is similar information for each of the included birds.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own. I can’t wait to get back in nature to learn more.

poisonedpen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BN-Jun-21.pdf

The Bombay Prince is the third of Ms. Massey’s titles featuring Perveen Mistry. This one is my favorite!

The story is set in the early 20th century when Perveen was the first female solicitor in India. Perveen was educated at Oxford when she could not attend law school in her own country. She is in a practice with her father.

At the time that this story begins, Prince Edward is traveling to India. It is a time of unrest and protest as many in India would like to leave British rule behind. Some of those who are protesting are students. In this context Freny, a young college student, consults with Perveen. Freny is later murdered (not really a spoiler as this happens early in the book). Who killed her? Why?

The story itself moves at a leisurely pace. Readers get to know Perveen better in this book. There is more time spent with her family. Perveen’s friend Alice and Colin (from the second book) also are quite present.

The settings are beautifully presented. There are the college, the hotels, clubs, storefronts and more. There is also a lot to learn about Indian culture, foods and funeral customs. The author’s care in including so much detail enhances the reader’s experience.

Ms. Massey has written this series and also an earlier one set in Japan. I recommend all of her books most highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

With 500 perplexing questions to BAMBOOZLE your friends!

by Jane Wilsher

I like the cover of this book with its hints of some of the topics that will be found inside. The facts are divided into a number of categories. These include Human Body; Science and Tech; Animals; Natural World; Space; Mindbending Stuff; History; Customs and Cultures; Our World; Arts and Entertainment; and Jargon Buster.

This book can be read in any order or just by opening a page at random. It could be fun to read alone or to read with others. However a child chooses to look at this book, they will find a lot to fascinate them. Just some of the questions include:

How old were you when your fingerprints developed?

What’s a borygmus?

Which British scientist suffered from seasickness?

What year was the first email sent?

Which creatures can nap for three years?

Were there any women pirates?

What is one of the oldest musical instruments? and so many, many more.

This book seems perfect as a gift for a summer read. Give it to a child you know.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 22 Jun 2021

A Distant Grave follows on the success of last year’s first in this series, The Mountains Wild. I wish that both books had slightly more engaging titles and covers as they deserve to be picked up and read. I gave a very favorable review to The Mountains Wild. Ideally, it should be read before A Distant Grave as otherwise there are some spoilers at thes beginning of the book. Readers who are fine with that can certainly start with this one though.

Maggie D’Arcy is again straddling two continents; part of this title takes place in North America (on Long Island) and part in Europe (Ireland). There are also sections that take place in Afghanistan. Each locale is fully brought to life.

Familiar characters from the first book abound; these include Maggie’s daughter, Lilly; her uncle, Frank; Irish boyfriend Conor and the many police and legal officers in both places. I enjoyed spending time with all of them.

Maggie’s case centers on the perplexing death of humanitarian aid worker, Gabriel who is murdered in Maggie’s neighborhood. There are many strands to his life and death. Does his demise have to do with his mother’s rebellious and independent nature that led her to be a single mother in conservative Ireland? Does it have to do with who Gabriel’s father was? Why was Gabriel’s Irish lawyer also murdered? What does the case have to do with Gabriel’s time in Afghanistan (if anything)? Are there connections between the murders and some of those with whom Maggie works in New York? What brought Gabriel to New York any way?

Readers can intuit that with all of these questions, finding the answers will make for an involving read. There is the added plus of the fully realized and engaging characters.

I highly recommend this title to those who enjoy mystery and suspense novels. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher! All opinions are my own.