Month: January 2022

Anna Lee Huber began a new series last year when This Side of Murder was published. In Treacherous is the Night, the second novel featuring Verity Kent, the author hits her stride.

The reader learns early on that Verity was an agent in La Dame Blanche, a resistance and intelligence group, during WWI. This story has to do with events that had their origin in that time.

At the beginning of the novel, Verity, although not a believer, attends a seance with a friend who hopes to contact her brother. For those who don’t know, attending seances was common after the war. The medium appears to channel an agent with whom Verity worked during the war. From this point on, the novel is a hunt for clues to find Emilie and to prevent a tragedy. While the reader assumes that, since this is a series, Verity will survive, the author should be credited for creating suspense in her narrative.

There is a reason to read the books in order. SPOILER: This has to do with what happened to Verity’s husband, something the reader learns in the first novel. However, if the reader is willing to move forward, there is no reason that this novel cannot be read first.

I gave This Side of Murder three *** and am happy to give the new novel four. I enjoyed spending time with the main characters in this book and look forward to meeting up with Verity, Sidney and the rest of the crew in the future.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher.

In my opinion, Val McDermid is one of the very best authors of mystery/police procedurals/suspense who is writing today. Her stand alone novel, A Place of Execution is extraordinary. She has another great one in The Vanishing Point. Then, of course, there are Ms. McDermid’s many series. The oldest are the Lindsay Gordon and Kate Brannigans and then there are the Tony Hill and Carol Jordans. However, my favorite series is the one featuring Karen Pirie.

Karen Pirie is a DCI who is in charge of historical cases that generally have a connection in the present. She is based in Scotland although in this book she travels afield, including a trip to Paris. Each novel in the series has several story lines that come together. There is a lot going on in this one.

The books are perhaps read in order although that is not strictly necessary. That said, long term readers will feel for Karen as the killer of her significant other Phil is released from prison. How will this change both her life and that of the killer? Followers of the series will also enjoy being updated on Karen’s relationship with Hamish and the work of her sidekick Jason.

There are several plots. There is the presumed murder of a Scottish political figure in the past and the fate of his brother in the present. There is a body found in a camper vab that may belong to the artist girlfriend of a road accident victim. There are clues like OUDS, 12N, art works, the fate of a conceptual artist and more.

In less talented hands, plates could get dropped but Ms. McDermid is in fine command of her craft. My only criticism is that now I will have to wait at least a year to spend time with Karen again.

I highly recommend this one!

How Amelia Earhart Became a Fashion Icon

by Jennifer Lane Wilson

This children’s book told me something about Amelia Earhart that I had not known. She designed women’s fashions. These were based on Amelia’s sense that clothes should not be too fussy and that they should allow for women’s movement. Amelia even modeled her designs.

The story of Amelia and fashion is interwoven with this story about Amelia’s love for the sky. This began when she was just a girl growing up in Kansas. Adults know that, from this beginning, Amelia Earhart became a barrier breaking pilot. This book offers children an opportunity to share in that excitement.

This title has bright, cartoon-like illustrations. They nicely complement the story.

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

by Peter Lovesey

I have long been a fan of Peter Lovesey’s Peter Diamond mysteries. I started with the first, The Last Detective, many years ago and am about to read the twentieth, Diamond and the Eye. I was first attracted to these novels by their setting in Bath and have grown to love the irascible Diamond and those around him. I have not yet read the Bertie mysteries but am sure that one day I will.

Cause for celebration is that Lovesey has written his 100th (!) short story. A number of these have been compiled into this collection by Lovesey himself. Lovesey begins with an introduction, where he notes that his first short story is from almost fifty years ago. Much to his surprise, Ruth Rendell complimented it. He has written so many since then. Lovesey describes short story writing as a gift that he gives to himself between his longer works.

Readers will enjoy seeing which stories are included here. I am glad to report that there is one Peter Diamond story, A Three Pie Problem.

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

nyti.ms/3qnBoES

nyti.ms/3GtJFwH

nyti.ms/33TOpgD