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

A Joanne Kilbourn Mystery

by Gail Bowen

The Unlocking Season is the nineteenth title in the popular Canadian series featuring Joanne Kilbourne. I have read some, but not all, of the books. My impression is that the more familiar readers are with Joanne and those around her, the more they will enjoy this book. It can be read as a first introduction as well but it is quite possible that a reader would then want to return to older stories in order to fully understand this title’s complexities.

In this entry, there is a lot about Joanne’s family history. She was raised by a father who was not her birth father and a documentary is being made about them both. Readers also spend some time with Joanne’s half sister. The family, like many, has a tangled past.

When something happens to the friend and colleague of Joanne’s who is helping with the script, Joanne wants to know what happened. What did? Why? Read the book to find out and to deepen your relationship with the characters.

I toggled back and forth between the book and the audio for this one. I enjoyed both.

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

Colm Toibin is a beautiful writer. I adored his novel, Brooklyn, and there are other titles by him that I would like to read. The Shortest Day by this favorite author is a short story and one that seems appropriate for this time of year with the solstice approaching.

The Shortest Day is a gorgeous story written by a master. I was immersed in its world so quickly. The tale is about an archaeologist who is researching a site, Newgrange, that brings to mind a sacred site like Stonehenge. He is a man of reason and proofs. Readers observe him, his wife and his personality.

Within Newgrange are the spirits of those from a time almost before time. These spirits have personalities, vanities, tempers and other qualities of humans. They await a special light that comes only once each year on the shortest day. This light sustains them in times ahead. The spirits do NOT want an archaeologist to visit at this sacred time.

From this set up, what happens? I highly encourage you to read this short story to find out. I was engrossed in this tale while I was told a story by a most competent, capable and intriguing master.

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

There are also many (!) titles by Ellis Peters as bargains today.

The Man of Property is part of The Forsyte Saga. I adored this series and have read the books several times. They may seem slow moving to modern eyes but I really enjoyed them.

poisonedpenbooks.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/bn-dec-20-1.pdf

I just reviewed this too.

www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/books/review/best-childrens-books.html

by Ed Strauss

I may be one of the few people that I know who has not read The Hobbit. I feel more inclined to now that I have entered the world of Bilbo and Co. through this thoughtful collection. In each entry, there is a quote from The Hobbit along with an entry that builds from this about ways to live one’s life. For example, an entry about fear gave me a good idea of the things that caused Bilbo to worry and showed how he dealt with a time when he had to face a fear. The very first entry is about comfort and invites the reader to think more deeply about what it is like to be in one’s comfort zone and whether or not there are times when this must be left. There are sixty entries in all so lots to contemplate.

I enjoyed this collection and imagine that I will be rereading a number of the entries. You might too.

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

Please note that this looks like a title that is being reissued so it can probably be purchased now if you are interested.

The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries is edited by Otto Penzler who always has good collections. At $1.99 it gives you over 600 pages of holiday mysteries. Truly a bargain.

I enjoyed The Paris Wife and Penny for Your Secrets.

Fiona Davis sets her novels in iconic New York City locations. She has told stories set at the Barbizon Hotel for Women, The Dakota, Grand Central Station and now at the Chelsea Hotel. In each of her three prior novels, the narrative took place during two eras; in this book, the author follows two characters in the same time period. They are actress Maxine and would be actress and playwright, Hazel.

The novel opens with Hazel joining a USO troop in Italy during WWII. These scenes were so evocative, both in terms of the war and the emotions raised for the performers. This beginning left me feeling very excited about the rest of the book except…for a while, I then found the narrative less engaging. However, round about chapter 18 there was a twist and I again became very involved in the story and the characters’ lives. It is worth sticking with the book in my opinion.

Much of this book centers on the activities of HUAC, the House Un-Amercian Activities Committee. Who is a Communist? Who is being targeted unfairly? Should we be rooting people out and encouraging them to turn on others? What are the consequences to everyone when a government sponsored witch hunt is going on? You will think about these issues as you read and may also find the subject relevant in our current political climate.

In addition to HUAC, the reader spends time at the Chelsea Hotel, the Tonys, on Broadway and more. There are actors, government workers, names dropped of famous and real Chelsea Hotel denizens and more. Most of all, readers will connect with Hazel and Maxine, their friendship and its challenges.

All in all, this was a good read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-galley. All opinions are my own.