A spa to die for: Death in Daylesford

by Kerry Greenwood

An e book bargain for 02 May 2024

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.

From a very creative author: The Mystery Writer (Sulari Gentill)

An e book bargain for May 1, 2024

#mysterywriter #NetGalley

One thing that I love about Sulari Gentill is that she never seems to rest on her laurels. I very much enjoyed her novels about Rowly Sinclair and his group of friends. These are historical mysteries, set in the 1930s, in a series that began with A Few Right Thinking Men. There are good characters who are good friends and good stories in each of the entries.

Ms. Gentill then began to write some standalone novels and stories set outside of Australia. These include After She Wrote Him, The Woman in the Library, and now, The Mystery Writer. Each has an intriguing and, perhaps quirky, story.

In this new book, Theo (Theodosia) has decided to leave law behind. She wants to be a novelist. When her mentor is killed and her brother becomes a suspect, the scene is set.

A few things to ponder…who was the murderer, where is Theo’s manuscript, and what secret things are happening? Get ready for the unraveling.

It is easy to recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 19 March 2024

Now out: Elements of Art

Susie Hodge has written a number of books about museums and art. I have found all of the ones that I have read to be interesting and informative. That is again the case here with Ms. Hodge again sharing her insights and ways of looking at things.

This title is well organized. There are ten elements of art explored in these pages. These include scale, colour, light, movement, medium, technique, content, location, time and, the artist. After explaining each of these in a clear way, Hodge moves on to explore a number of paintings. Just some of these works are The Arnolfini Portrait (van Eyck), The Serenade (Judith Lester), The Monk by the Sea (Caspar David Fridrich), Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Katushika Hokusai), The Starry Night (Vincent Van Gogh), and Guernica (Pablo Picasso). There are too many to list but all are engaging and worth a look.

There are works here that readers will recognize and look at anew and those that will be getting a first glance. In each case, it is terrific to read what Hodge has to say.

Highly recommended to art lover experienced and un. Note the many gorgeous reproductions as the pages turn.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What happened when: The Clock Struck Murder (Betty Webb)

I met Zoe Barlow in this author’s first in the series, Lost in Paris. In both that book and this, the Paris of the 1920s comes to life. It was the time of the ex-pats with many, including the fictional Zoe, finding their way in a post war world.

This novel is set around the time of the 1924 Olympics. What will happen because a clock was damaged in a poker game? Suffice it to say, a lot and that includes murder! Even Chagall’s art figures into the story as Zoe detects.

In addition to the evocation of Paris, the murder and Chagall, readers of the first book will want to know how Zoe is doing. She is still searching for her daughter as the story begins; will there be an update?

Those who enjoy historical mysteries will enjoy this one. It is possible to read this without having read the first book although with that one’s story involving Hemingway (among others), there is a lot going for it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 09 April 2024

The first book:

What was: Lost in Paris (by Betty Webb)

Enter his world: Soundtrack of Silence (Matt Hay)

Matt Hay has written a memoir that will resonate with its audience. It is a story of his hearing loss but, more importantly, about his life and those around him, including his wife.

Young Matt did not completely realize that he heard the world differently from others though he was making efforts to compensate. He discorered that he would completely lose his hearing at a very vulnerable time in his life. So, what did he do and how did his life go on?

Readers will find that this title is most aptly named. Music played a key role in his coping and strategy.

This is a story of a person finding their way. It will be especially welcome to those who have faced a hearing impairment but also, I think, speaks to a wider audience.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 09 January 2024

History unspools in the : North Woods (by Daniel Mason)

An e book bargain for May 1, 2024

#NorthWoods #NetGalley

ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND THE WASHINGTON POST’S TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Time, The Boston Globe, NPR, Chicago Public Library, The Star Tribune, The Economist, The Christian Science Monitor, Real Simple, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Bookreporter

It is clear from the above that North Woods is a special book. Anyone who enjoys an immersive read will want to give this title a look. It tells the story of a place over the course of many years and many lives and through many narrative threads. As an added perspective, there is much on nature in these pages. 

The story begins with the Puritans; readers get to know these first (and all of the other characters) well. All have stories to tell and their lives cover many years of American history.

I highly recommend this complex and rewarding book. Get to know the yellow house. Take the time to enjoy time spent there.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in September 2023

From the Publisher

The San Francisco Chronicle compares the book to David Mitchell, Edgar Allan Poe, and Thoreau
Abraham Verghese calls it an original and spellbinding novelNamed a Best Book of the Year by multiple publicationsMaggie O’Farrell calls it a monumental achievement
The Guardian says To read it is to travel to the limits of what the novel can doThe Washington Post calls it a time-spanning, genre-blurring workNPR says it channels Hawthorne, Thoreau, Richard Powers, and George Saunders
All homes have histories. This one has more than most.