Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

I am waiting to read this one.  What you see below is courtesy of the publisher.

In Blood is Blood, a bombing injures private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, leaving it up to his soon-to-be-married junior partner Thomas Llewelyn to find the person trying to murder them both before it’s too late―in the newest mystery in Will Thomas’s beloved Thomas Llewlyn series.

In 19th century London, Cyrus Barker and his associate Thomas Llewelyn are renowned private enquiry agents, successfully employed by the highest levels of Her Majesty’s government as well as private citizens. Their success, however, has led to their acquiring a powerful group of enemies, many of whom are determined to have their revenge.

At least one of those enemies is responsible for a bombing of their offices that puts Cyrus Barker into the hospital and endangers Thomas Llewelyn’s rapidly forthcoming nuptials. To add to the confusion, Barker’s long-lost brother Caleb turns up on the rubble of their doorstep not long after the not-quite-fatal bombing.

Unsure of Caleb and warned about him by Barker, Thomas reluctantly accepts Caleb’s help both with a new case that comes in as well as trying to pinpoint which of Barker’s enemies is making a move against them. As Thomas works his way through their enemy list, someone else is winnowing down that list: one by one those enemies are dying.

With time running out―and his bride-to-be reconsidering their marriage―Llewelyn must (with the sick-bed bound Barker’s help) uncover the killer and the plot before it’s too late.

This is a reassuring, optimistic, factual and supportive book that talks about gender identity.  Terms are clearly defined, children are encouraged to be who they are and all topics are clearly explained.  This book will be especially welcome to families whose children may not identify with the old girl/boy dichotomy of times past.  It will be a good resource for school library shelves.

Anne Perry has been writing Christmas novellas for many years; A Christmas Revelation is this year’s entry. This is a story about Worm, a precocious orphan, who lives at a shelter/ women’s clinic whose bookkeeper is a reformed criminal named Squeaky. Readers of the William Monk series will recognize the clinic as the one where Hester works and will also know that Squeaky is a regular series character.

Worm sees a beautiful woman on the street who appears angelic to him. When he realizes that she is in trouble, Worm wants to help. Because he cares for Worm, Squeaky becomes involved in a somewhat convoluted plot to help her. Their efforts form the plot of the novella.

In the fore and backgrounds of the story is the spirit of Christmas as is appropriate for this seasonal book. The reader observes as Worm learns the meaning of the holiday and has, what appears to be, his first true holiday celebration.

Long term fans of Anne Perry will want to read this book so as to be up to date with all of her series and characters. However, much as I love Anne Perry, I have enjoyed several of her holiday novellas more than this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I very much wanted to read this book.

If you like to doodle and would like to learn how to make adorable pictures of food, animals, landmarks, etc., this is most definitely the book for you! The creator of this volume, quit a job to become a full-time doodle artist. Kawaii is  explained as a particular kind of doodle which focuses on cheerfulness and sweet faces in the illustrations. Steps are provided for how to create many irresistible doodles on your own.  I woke up grumpy today and found that this book cheered me up and gave me lots of good ideas.  Highly recommended if you like to draw!

#KawaiiDoodleCuties #NetGalley

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I read fewer cozy mysteries than I once did so they have to look interesting if I am to pick them up. Having read last year’s novel by this author, I was eager to read her sophomore effort. I enjoyed The Hour of Death very much.

The series is set in small village Wales and many of the characters are in religious life. I found the descriptions of the Sisters’ daily life to be endearing and appealing. Pryderi feels like the perfect community, even though there are developers encroaching and murders taking place.

Protagonist, Sister Agatha, is a librarian, cheese maker and would be author of detective fiction. Her heroes are Inspector Barnaby and Armand Gamache, among others. The insertion of these and other loved mystery authors seems to fit right in. Sister Agatha’s main partner in crime is Father Selwyn. The two have known each other since childhood and together follow the clues, often while drinking Welsh teas.

In this new book by the author, an important member of the WI is killed. Of course, the question is “who did it?” Around this, there are other female characters, most especially Lucy, whose story unfolds over the course of the novel. Returning characters, including the female Bishop and Sister Gwennyd, add to the book’s pleasure.

This is not the hardest mystery to solve but the story is very enjoyable. Highly recommended if you like cozy mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press for this relaxing and seasonal read that takes place in the buildup to Christmas.

 

My review of the first book in the series:

The Shadow of Death is a cozy mystery by an author who is new to me.  The novel’s protagonist, Sister Agatha, is a Jessica Fletcher like amateur detective.  In the book the reader finds murder, financial shenanigans and characters who have troubled pasts. The delights in the novel are the setting, the insights into modern (un-stuffy) religious life and the warmth of the characters.  My guess is that we will be reading a sequel this time next year!

 

I really liked this book and think that young beach explorers (and their adults) will too!  It is filled with information, photographs, illustrations, stickers, suggested activities and more.  There are many suggestions about things to look for and observe; everything from seabirds to plants to tides to sounds to shells and rocks and loads more.  There are suggestions for games, building sandcastles and many other activities.  At the back of the book is a facsimile of a diary entry in which a child can note the day’s adventures.  The book is appealing and interactive.  I recommend it highly!

#BackpackExplorerBeachWalk #NetGalley

This simple picture book story is about a young child who is trying to figure out what to do to make his cat happier.  Bilingual, easy to read and fun, this is a good book for beginning readers.

#MyCatIsSadMiGatoEstaTriste #NetGalley

Do you have a child who will be starting school soon? Would they like to know what to expect? If the answer is yes, this book is for you. Tour school with young student, Kushi. She goes through all of the important parts of the building, including important stops like lunchrooms and bathrooms. Classrooms, the office, library, gym and more are included in this reassuring visit. With its colorful, multicultural illustrations and additional resources, this story will be a welcome addition to the genre.

 

So, my children’s lit class has moved on from Little Women to another resourceful girl, Dorothy.  I had read this book as a child, have seen the movie many times and was looking forward to going back to the book again.

I had read The Wizard of Oz as a story about inner resources that are there for one although it may take time to recognize that.  To me, that was a part of the journey of Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tinman and The Lion.  There is also, of course, the idea of family and there being “no place like home.”

In class a far more political view was discussed.  There was a high school English teacher named Littlefield who saw this book as reflecting the Populist (a political party) sentiments of the time.  At the time, farmers wanted silver to be added to gold money so that more could be issued.  This is seen in the book when Dorothy wears her Silver, not red, slippers on the Yellow (gold) Brick Road.  In the novel, the farmers on the prairies are suffering as was true after the Civil War.  Dorothy’s life is literally turned upside down as was true for those who struggled.  In this understanding of the novel, the Scarecrow is a stand in for the farmer, the Tinman represents factory workers and the Lion stood for William Jennings Bryant.

Others viewed the novel as related to the Gilded Age.  Capitalism put a (false) sheen on everything and Oz is seen to shine in that way.  The novel can also be looked at as Dorothy’s coming of age story;  in this view it is the story of an orphan’s self-discovery.

How do you view The Wizard of Oz?  I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you thought about re-reading this very American, childhood classic?