by Richard Osman

Fans or Richard Osman’s first novel, The Thursday Murder Club, will undoubtedly be most eager to read The Man Who Died Twice. This new novel contains what have quickly become the trademarks of the author’s work. There are the four quirky and individual protagonists (Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron), some complex situations, adventure, and a mixture of humor and excellent plotting. No need to say more except that, among other things, there are diamonds and murder. Just know that the ingredients are here for a perfect escapist read.

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

by A. A. Milne

Narrated by Joel Froomkin

pub date: 04 Jan 22 #WinniethePooh #NetGalley

The Pooh stories are deservedly children’s classics. The tales are engaging with characters that come to vivid life. There is a reasoning in the stories that echoes that of young children and that delights adults as well.

This is a wonderfully narrated version of Winnie the Pooh, from the origin of his name and right on through. The reader has an engaging style and draws listeners in. Highly recommended for old and young, maybe for a time when you are on some form of transportation and could use a gentle listen.

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

Coincidentally, I met up with Pooh and Co. last week!

Jane Eyre is free.

Broken Ground by Val McDermid

#BrokenGround #NetGalley

Val McDermid writes a number of series; of them all, the Karen Pirie novels are my favorites. Broken Ground is the newest of these.
I enjoy Karen. She is a quirky woman who has faced a significant loss and is still recovering. In this novel, she gingerly considers a new relationship. She is an old fashioned copper who cares about justice and what is right. She is loyal to those on her team who are still learners.
Karen is the head of the Historical Cases Unit in Scotland. Spending time with her, the members of her team (including her adversaries) and her cases is always time well-spent. In this novel, there are several stories; one relates to events of WWII, another to a serial rapist, and there is also a present day murder. Each of these plots is explored satisfactorily.
I finished this book today and am already looking forward to what happens next in the series. I highly recommend both this book and the series.

Many (!) thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this satisfying read.

This entry in the author’s long standing Gamache mystery series is truly outstanding.  It is one of the very, very best mysteries that I have read this year.

The plot involves the death of a woman who had been abused by her husband.  Does that mean that he was the murderer?  If yes, how to convict and, if not, who was it and why are central to the plot.

But…it is the way that Penny writes that makes this book so truly excellent.  She is philosophical and thoughtful, all the while enhancing, not taking away from the plot based action.  The book is full of references to Moby Dick whose relevance becomes apparent.  Many of the characters are chasing their own versions of that great whale and, as in the novel, they are distressed.

Penny has a true talent for making  her characters com to life.  This is true for the series regulars as well as those who fully inhabit this novel. The people are complex and within contain both much goodness and potential for wrongdoing, even if sometimes for what they feel are the right reasons.  In addition, the early chapters of the book about potential flooding made me feel the cold, the rain, the fear and the worry.

Penny herself states:

“These books are about community.  About love and belonging.  About the great gift of friendship.

How lucky I am to live in Three Pines.”

You, too, will be most lucky to visit Three Pines.  I give this one 6 stars out of five.  Really.

by Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer was a very popular author of Regency romances. She wrote The Grand Sophy among others. These stories have long been read by Austen fans and others. What readers may not know, however, is that Heyer also wrote a series of mysteries. This title is one of the books that has been reissued in more recent years.

This is a country house mystery, although said house is rather rundown. It is visited by a trio of siblings who discover a body. Who is the killer and how will the case be solved?

This is a very traditional mystery with a bit of a supernatural touch. Modern readers sometimes criticize Heyer’s mysteries for being long and a bit slow. Not everyone will feel that way however and many may enjoy the leisurely pace and the knowledge of a long (over 400 pages) read ahead. I am glad to have revisited Ms. Heyer in this story.

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

#THEUNIFORM #NetGalley

I have long enjoyed reading mysteries set in Scotland so was very interested when this title came to my attention. Fans of police procedurals may also want to read this one.

The story is set in 1970s Edinburgh where Helen Carter is a women on the police force. Of course, given the time and culture, she is not always treated with respect. Nonetheless, Helen is assigned to a murder that took place in an old theater. There is an interesting calling card next to the victim. What will happen in solving the case? For one thing, more than one murder takes place as readers follow the investigation.

This is the first in a series. Keep an eye out for the following ones. Right now this book is just ninety-nine cents on Amazon so definitely worth a try.

This title can be contrasted with Val McDermid’s 1979. Both feature women in what was then called a “man’s world,” both are set in Scotland and both involve crimes.

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

A Nigel Strangeways Mystery

by Nicholas Blake

Hooray to the publisher for deciding to reissue the Nigel Strangeways mysteries, of which this is the sixth. I adored them when I read them a number of years ago. I enjoyed spending time with Nigel and also with the women in his life over the course of the books.

The novels were written under a pen name. Nicholas Blake was Cecil Day-Lewis, a well regarded poet. This background comes through in the language and writing of the stories.

In this one, mayhem is occurring at a holiday camp. Are these practical jokes or is worse to come? Solve the case with Nigel in this story written in 1940.

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

A Novel

by Maureen Joyce Connolly

This is the story of what happens in the aftermath of a decision that mother, Claire, desperately wishes that she could take back. Not a spoiler because this is learned early in the novel…Claire, a busy mom and medical student, pulls into a gas station when she feels unwell. Her mistake is to leave her two sleeping children in the car. When she gets back to her vehicle her children are missing. What happened? Will they be found? How/can Claire live with herself? Read this one to find out. You will care about the characters.

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

From the Publisher

Transitions, Letting Go, and Unexpected Happiness

by Katharine Esty, PhD

I am not yet in my eighties but hope to be one day as I cannot bear to think of the alternative. Many fear this stage of life but Doctor Esty will help readers to anticipate, move through this stage and have a life that can include joy and meaning.

The book’s chapters cover a wide range of topics. A few of these include Dementia, Spirituality and Unexpected Happiness. Readers experience these topics with the benefit of the interviews conducted by the author.

In addition to its audience of eighty somethings this book could also be usefully read by adult children or others who have relationships with those in this age bracket. It will help them to understand its unique place in the life cycle.

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