NanaCC's (Colleen's) 2018 Reading

I'm Colleen and I will post my current reading here. Hopefully, I'll do better at keeping up with my thread. I was quite negligent at the end of 2017. The mix of audio books to print books is about 50/50 as I always have several knitting projects on the go.

Happy reading everyone. I'm looking forward to all of your book bullets.

CURRENTLY READING:

Firefly Summer by Maeve Binchy
In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
The Essex Serpent Sarah Perry
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Currently Listening:

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset, Narrated by Erin Bennett
The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss, narrated by Christopher Lane
If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino, narrated by Jefferson Mays
Romeo and Juliet: A Novel by David Hewson, Narrated by Richard Armitage

Books Read 2018

Print/Kindle

1- Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters
2- The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie
3- For the Sake of Elena by Elizabeth George
4- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
5- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
6- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
7- The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
8- A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear
9- Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear
10- News of the World by Paulette Jiles
11- A Pale Horse by Charles Todd
12- White Houses by Amy Bloom
13- A Matter of Justice by Charles Todd
14- Tangerine by Christine Mangan
15- The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
16- Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
17- War Brides by Helen Bryan
18- The Red Door by Charles Todd
19- A Lonely Death by Charles Todd
20- The Confession by Charles Todd

Audio

1- Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren
2- A False Mirror by Charles Todd, Narrated by Samuel Gillies
3- The Unexpected Mrs Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman, Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
4- The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley, Narrated by Jayne Entwistle
5- The Amazing Mrs Polifax by Dorothy Gilman, Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
6- Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren
7- What Remains of Heaven by C. S. Harris, Narrated by Davina Porter
8-Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Katherine Kellgren
9- On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service by Rhys Bowen, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren
10- The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Jonathan Keeble and Katy Sobey
11- Hall of Mirrors (Bryant and May) by Christopher Fowler, narrated by Tim Goodman
12- The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell
13- The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell

Stats

Books Read Total = 33
Print/Kindle = 20; Audio = 13; Women authors = 22; New to me authors = 8

Just dropping by to leave a star to follow your reading next year.

Thank you for stopping Oscar, and Hapoy ?New Year to you. I hope to do better this year about posting and commenting on threads.

Happy New Year Colleen! Starring your thread. I’m hoping to be present on LT this year!

Happy New Year! Dropping off my star too. Hopefully I will have more time to post rather than lurk on others threads this year.

Happy New Year! I did a really bad job of keeping up with LT last year, so I’m hoping for a better year too - and looking forward to seeing what you are reading again.

Happy New Year, Colleen (and to Chris also, miss her!). I've set up a separate thread for mystery lovers if you are interested. More of a question & discussion thread, and a gathering place for lovers of the genre.

Hello NanaCC and Happy New Year!

>3 OscarWilde87: Star here as well.

>5 Polaris-:, >6 AlisonY:, >7 rachbxl:, >8 avaland:, >9 brodiew2: Thank you all for stopping by. I really am going to try to comment more this year. I do a lot of lurking, but not posting. And, my reading stats were down quite a bit this year.

Paul, it is nice to see you here. I’ve missed your posts.
Alison, hopefully we will both succeed in the posting goal :)
Rachel, I think a lot of us were in the same boat this past year. I let myself get too absorbed by the whole political fiasco.
Lois, I’m not sure why Chris doesn’t participate. I will tell her you were asking for her. I will check out your mystery thread. It seems to be my genre of choice these days.
Brodie, Happy New Year to you too.

Hi Colleen. Looking forward to following your reading. I see your are near the beginning of the Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George. You are in for a treat. I've read them all, and while I do agree with many that for the past several volumes the series has gotten weaker, I've persevered.

>11 arubabookwoman: Hi Deborah. I’m enjoying the Lynley series a lot. I got For the Sake of Elena and the next two books for Christmas. My daughter, Chris, knows what I like, and she is hooked on the series too.

My first book of the year.

1. Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters.

This is the fourth book in the Amelia Peabody series. Victorian era Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson are on another archeological expedition in Egypt. The mysteries are not very taxing, but the entertaining dialogue makes me smile. Their precocious son, Ramses, is far beyond belief. But again he makes me smile.

Hey, Colleen, the thread for the crime novel/mystery lovers is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/280015 All are welcome.

Hi Colleen. A lot of us need a better year this year. Wish you a great one, reading-wise and in all other ways.

>15 dchaikin: Thank you, Dan. Last year was such a sad one for my family with the loss of a few people, including my brother. This year just has to be better, all the way around.

Looking forward to following along with your reading again this year. I hope it's a better one for you.

>13 NanaCC: This year, I think I actually am going to make a start on the Amelia Peabody series. It sounds like it's a good one for when you just want something fun and entertaining.

>17 valkyrdeath: Hi Gary. Happy New Year. Meredith (Mabith) can take the credit for introducing me to the Amelia Peabody series. The mysteries take a back seat to the witty dialog. I read them purely for fun.

Setting down a star in your new thread Colleen.

Happy New Year, Colleen. I look forward to following your reading again this year.

Thank you for stopping by, Caroline and Beth. Here’s hoping for a happy year of reading.

Just stopping by to say hello and wishing the best for the new year!

Thank you Jane. The very best of the new year to you as well. I’m hoping for a good year of reading.

Just stopped by to hang my star!

>24 avidmom: Thank you! I’ve been by to check out your “quilt”, and see you are on a global quest.

2. Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Book number 8 in the Her Royal Spyness series has Lady Georgiana headed to the United States. She is accompanying her mother who is off to Las Vegas to obtain a divorce, so that she can marry the latest in her string of wealthy men. Georgiana's mother is a famous actress, and is asked to take a role in an awful movie, so they make a side trip to Hollywood. Murder and mayhem, of course, happen wherever Georgie seems to be. These definitely fall into the cosy mystery class. The books are mostly silly fun. Katherine Kellgren's narration is very good.

3. The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie

Jerry Burton and his sister, Joanna, head to a quiet little village called Lymstock, where Jerry will recuperate from injuries he sustained in a flying accident. Anonymous nasty letters start appearing at the doors of many of the residents, including Jerry and his sister. Suspicions about who is doing it go from one person to another, but when a suspected suicide seems to be prompted by a letter, everything becomes more sinister. Miss Marple doesn't appear until near the end of the book, and of course she helps tie up the loose ends and identify the killer (oh, yes, a murder or two). This book is third in the Miss Marple series. An enjoyable read, as usual.

4. For the Sake of Elena by Elizabeth George

In the fifth book in the Lynley/Havers series, a deaf college girl, Elena Weaver, was murdered as she took her usual morning run. Her father is a highly regarded professor at the college, St. Stephen’s in Cambridge. He has put many restrictions on Elena, which she resents and has rebelled against. There are many possible candidates for the murderer, and it did take me quite a while to figure this one out.

The ongoing storylines of Lynley’s wanting to marry Lady Helen, and his sergeant, Barbara Havers, trying to come to terms with her mother’s worsening dementia add character to the book.

I am still enjoying this series.

The author includes a map at the start of the book to show where this fictional college would be situated by Trinity College, even though there is no physical way there would be room for it.

5. A False Mirror by Charles Todd, Narrated by Samuel Gillies

This is the ninth book in the Inspector Rutledge mystery series. The series takes place just after the recently ended Great War. Rutledge carries with him post war trauma, and with it the voice of Hamish, one of his men during the war whose death he had to order at the hands of a firing squad. In this book, a man is found beaten nearly to death by the waters edge. The suspect is the former lover of the man’s wife. Rutledge is asked to come and prove the suspect’s innocence, a difficult task because this man is someone he despises. Two murders complicate matters, when the injured man disappears. A fairly good who-done-it. I will be continuing with the series.

Just dropping by to say hello and Happy New Year! I haven't started a thread here this year (yet) but will be keeping an eye on your reading.

Happy New Year to you too, Vivienne. I’ll be watching your thread in the Cat group, until / if you start one here

Ooh, mysteries and audiobooks! Two categories I am trying to gain more experience with. I shall most definitely be looking forward to seeing your posts!

6. The Unexpected Mrs Polifax by Dorothy Gilman, Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

This delightful book was such an unexpected surprise. I wish I could remember how I heard about it. Mrs Emily Polifax, a widow with grandchildren, was quite bored with her life. The garden club, and her charitable work were becoming tiresome, and she longed for adventure. From the time she was young, she had thought how exciting it would be to become a spy. She takes herself from her home in New Brunswick, New Jersey and travels to Washington D. C. where she shows up at the offices of the CIA asking for a job. In a case of mistaken identity, she is sent to Mexico, where she is to be a tourist for a few weeks, and pick up an important package at a bookstore. Things go wrong, and she winds up in Albania.

The book was written in 1966, during the Cold War. Russian communists, Chinese communists, and intrigue abound. Having lived through that time period, I understand how dangerous the time was, and remember The Man from U.N.C.L.E. This book is filled with humor. To believe this 60 something grandmother could be so “Unexpected”, takes some putting aside reality, but I was quite willing to do so. The book was quite funny for a spy novel. There are fourteen books in this series, and I have downloaded the second, which I will most likely listen to soon. Barbara Rosenblat’s narration is wonderful.

>32 shadrach_anki: Hello, Anki, and thank you for stopping by. Mysteries tend to be my comfort reads, and the past year has been a time when I really needed that. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, because I can knit while I listen.

There is also a thread in our group where you might get some ideas for mystery and crime novels that you’d enjoy based upon the current discussion. http://www.librarything.com/topic/280015

I’ll stop by your thread to see what you are currently reading.

>34 NanaCC: I have around 90 minutes of commuting time every weekday, and the radio can be very hit or miss. I listen to quite a few podcasts, but I really like stories, so I have been picking up more audiobooks. The tricky thing for me is finding narrators I like (thankfully, Audible and Libby have audio samples you can listen to) and also finding books that, well, don't have much/any swearing or "I'll just skip to the next scene" bits. So I have been sticking largely to books I have already read in print, but I would like to branch out.

I also knit, and will listen sometimes as I do so (if my husband isn't watching YouTube videos on the TV, that is; then those will provide background noise) and I definitely listen as I am cooking or cleaning. And when I take walks. And sometimes just because. :)

>35 shadrach_anki: Your description of when you listen made me smile because my experience is very much the same. I started using audiobooks while I was working, as it made the long commute bearable. And I agree, the reader can make or break a good book.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

This book was originally written in 1939, under the title Ten Little "N#@#" (I don't feel comfortable using the N word here.) When it was published in the U.S. the title was deemed unacceptable, and was published under the title Ten Little Indians. More currently, that title became unacceptable, and hence the title And Then There Were None, using the last line of the poem which is the plot line that keeps the book moving forward. (Even the poem's lines have been changed from Ten little Indians).

The poem which I refer to is this:
"Ten little soldier boys went out to dine; 
One choked his little self and then there were Nine.
Nine little soldier boys sat up very late; 
One overslept himself and then there were Eight.
Eight little soldier boys traveling in Devon;
 One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven.
Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks; 
One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.
Six little soldier boys playing with a hive; 
A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.
Five little soldier boys going in for law; 
One got into chancery and then there were Four.
Four little soldier boys going out to sea;
 A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.
Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo;
 A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.
Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun;
 One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One little soldier boy left all alone; 
He went and hanged himself
And then there were None."

Ten people are invited to an island, which in this version is called Soldier Island. They've all been invited by a Mr. or Mrs. Owens, with enough information that they believe they know the person, although with some reservations. When they get to the island, they are stranded with no means of escape, and at once find themselves all accused of having been instrumental in the death of someone. Each bears a little guilt, although nothing would ever pass a court of law. As with the poem, they find out that one by one they will die. Who will be next? Who is doing the murders? They know it has to be one of their party. Suspicion and fear are, of course, vey high.

This is considered to be one of Agatha Christie's best novels. The mystery is very complex. The characterizations are very good. In a way, it explores the question, "What is guilt?" I really enjoyed this one. I didn't guess the murderer, although once the culprit was revealed, I realized that the clue was there. If you like a good who-done-it mystery, I think you'd really like this one.

>37 NanaCC: I read this one years ago I think. I must have been in high school when I decided I liked Christie's books and did a binge read odd them. Unfortunately I don't remember anything. Maybe I should read one or two again...

>38 chlorine: Agatha Christie was pretty prolific. I've read quite a few of her Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot mysteries, but not anywhere near all of them. I'm just starting another tonight, which I have read before, but my daughter is reading these two for her book group - (And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express). She thought I might like to join them.

Christie is a lot of fun. I especially enjoy the Miss Marple and Tommy & Tuppence ones, the humor amuses me quite a bit, haha.

>40 .Monkey.: A lot of fun indeed! :) And, not always that easy to figure out.

>39 NanaCC: I'm working my way through the Miss Marples this year Colleen, four so far (I think there are 15).

>42 Caroline_McElwee: I will probably be reading several of those too. I think I'll try to read ones that I've not read already, but sometimes I just can't help myself. :)

>37 NanaCC: And Then There Were None is a Christie I haven't got round to yet, though I've seen three adapted versions of it for film, TV and a live stage show. I'm intending to read it, though there's so many others by her I'm also intending to read so I'm never sure when I'll get round to a particular one!

>44 valkyrdeath: There are so many books by Christie that if I decided to read one right after the other, I think that my dance card would be quite full for a good part of the year. I will definitely be reading a few more at some point this year, but I’ll try to spread them out. Right now I’m doing a re-read of The Orient Express.

>37 NanaCC: Interesting info about the title, Colleen. I hadn't realized it changed so many times.

I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie. I started reading her books when I was pre-teen and read everything I could lay my hands on. Some have become a bit dated, but I still enjoy most of them to this day.

>46 BLBera: Beth, I had heard of the original title, but had forgotten about it. When I checked to find the original publication date, I found that info.

>47 VivienneR: I’ve been a fan from early on too, Vivienne, but I must admit that I haven’t read quite a few of them. I’m trying to read the ones I’ve missed, although I have favorites that I might revisit.

>48 NanaCC: Of course we are both fans, Colleen! We are reading twins!

>49 VivienneR: :)

And then there were none is a classic 'locked room' mystery. Everything fits together beautifully.

>51 baswood: I’ve read several ‘locked room’ mysteries, but I think that this is the best of them all. Her use of the poem is really clever.

Another Agatha Christie-fan here. I've been rereading her books for a few years now and I still enjoy them when I'm in the right mood. And Then There Were None was one of my favourites.

>53 Trifolia: Do you have any other favorite mystery writers, Monica? I find mysteries are my comfort reads.

>52 NanaCC: All this talk about And then there were none makes me want to read it again.
In France there's a book that's also considered as a class locked room mystery: Le mystère de la chambre jaune (the mystery of the yellow room) by Gaston Leroux. Have you read it by any chance?

>55 chlorine: Mystery of the yellow room is one of the first locked room mysteries. :) I read it a couple years ago; I didn't love it, but it was fun. Rouletabille was an interesting character. I liked it more than Phantom (what Leroux is particularly famous for, at least in English), for sure, lol.

>55 chlorine:, >56 .Monkey.: I have not read The Mystery of the Yellow Room, but now I’m interested. I’ll have to look for it.

>57 NanaCC: You should check it out. You can get it cheap from the Wordsworth editions, or probably free if you do e-reading, as it's old. ;)

>54 NanaCC: - Mysteries are my comfort reads too. I tend to switch between old mysteries, cozy mysteries, historical mysteries and scandinavian crime-fiction if I'm not up to reading anything else.
My favourite old mystery-writers are Anna Katherine Green (she's one of the first detective-writers, so it's interesting to see how she put the genre on the map), Mary Roberts Rinehart (always fun and engaging). There are quite a few books by other authors that I liked, e.g. Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles and The Moonstone, a classic by Wilkie Collins.
A few years ago, I read the first six cozy mysteries in the Aunt Dimity-series by Nancy Atherton. Very fluff, but a lot of fun.
I found The Meaning of Night and The Glass of Time by Michael Cox two of the best mystery comfort-reads I'd read so far. And an honorable mention for Gillespie and I and The Observations by Jane Harris.
I wonder if you have read any of these?

>59 Trifolia: That’s a good list, Monica. I have Wilkie Collins The Moonstone, but have yet to read it. I loved The Woman in White, so I’m sure I’ll love that one too. I tried an audio version one time while I was working, but the recording was terrible and I didn’t get far. I also have Gillespie and I on my kindle. I plan on getting to that one this year. Now you’ve added all of the others to my list. That’s why I love this group. The suggestions just keep pouring in.

8. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Another ‘closed room’ mystery by Agatha Christie, although the “room” is a train that has been stranded in the snow. A murder takes place, and one of the passengers must be the murderer. I’ve read this one before, ao there was no surprise. It was still enjoyable. There have been several film adaptations, and I look forward to the newest once it is released on dvd this month. If you haven’t read it, it is a good one.

>56 .Monkey.: I've also read The Phantom of the Opera at approximately the same time I read Le mystère de la chambre jaune. I remember struggling with it and liking it a lot at the same time. I think that it is partly because I was quite young (in my early teens I guess, or before).
It might be worth a re-read as an adult but, reading your comment, I'll focus on the yet unread stuff that attracts me more.

>62 chlorine: Haha, yeah, given that it spawned such a huge Broadway musical and movies and such, I figured it'd be this amazing thing but it was...eh. Not awful but just, eh. Lol.

The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley, Narrated by Jayne Entwistle

I needed something entertaining to listen to on my five hour drive to Boston last week.This book, 9th in the charming Flavia de Luce series, was just the ticket to get me there and back. The precocious Flavia is maturing both mentally and physically. She is learning not to just blurt out the first thing that comes into her brilliant mind. On a quiet get away with her sisters and their faithful friend Dogger, Flavia discovers a body, and sets out to put right a wrong.

The series is best read in order. The setting is 1950’s England, when, I think, children were a bit more innocent than they are today. Part of the charm for me is that the time reminds me of my own childhood (minus the dead bodies, of course). This book is my favorite in the series so far. The ending left open possibilities for it to take on a slightly new direction. I guess I will need to wait and see.

>64 NanaCC: Great review! I can't wait to get to it.

>65 VivienneR: Have you listened to any of them? The reader’s voice is quite suitable for this series. I find them perfect for a long car ride.

Great comments, Colleen. You almost tempt me to pick up the series again. I loved the first one and didn't really like the next two, so I stopped. They get better?

>65 VivienneR: Yes, I read them all and then listed to Jayne Entwistle read a couple. They were excellent. Her voice is perfect for Flavia. I can't listen to audiobooks in the car. Not sure why but I end up missing bits. Maybe a long boring highway would be ok.

>67 BLBera: Our varying tastes are odd, aren't they? Although I liked it, the first one wasn't my favourite.

>67 BLBera: It’s hard for me to say, Beth. I think I’ve enjoyed all of them. And, as Vivienne says, we do all have different tastes. This last one was definitely my favorite, but I think you need the buildup of the previous books to get the most enjoyment out of them.

>68 VivienneR: I can’t listen to just any book while driving. Mysteries seem to work best for me, and the reader must be really good. I’ve been listening to Romeo and Juliet: A Novel by David Hewson, and I’m enjoying it. But it is a bit slow for a car trip. I can’t listen to most non-fiction books in the car, because I usually find myself wanting to look up something, which of course I can’t do in the car.

Good advice about listening in the car. I'll try it on my next trip - not a quick trip to the grocery store!

>70 VivienneR: The problem for me on a short car trip, is that I wind up sitting in the car listening if the book is good. :)

Edited to add that my reading has come almost to a standstill this week, as I’ve been watching a lot of the Olympics events.

>69 NanaCC: I agree that mysteries work well as audio books on car trips. Although that can backfire. When I was commuting to grad school, about 90 minutes each way, I would usually be on my way home about 10pm. I can remember listening to one that scared me silly. I wish I could remember which one it was, but I had to stop listening to it.:)

>71 NanaCC: My reading has been taking a hit thanks to the Olympics too!

Count me in with the Olympic fans too!

>72 BLBera: If you think of it, please let me know. I’ll avoid it. :)

>73 ursula:, >74 VivienneR: There is so much of it that we can pick and choose. I’m guessing I could watch all day, if I recorded a few events that overlap. I think I need to make sure I move a bit though. :)

It would probably be OK if you were listening to it during the day, surrounded by people, alone at night on a deserted stretch of road, not so much.

>71 NanaCC:, >73 ursula: I've been binging Olympics as well.

We have been watching select Olympic events. We record it and then watch it when convenient. I enjoyed the women's ski jumping and men's half-pipe (not sure why I love snow boarding so much). We are definitely behind.

Hi Colleen! When you visited my 75 books thread today I realized I had yet to find your 2018 thread. I'm so sorry! I'll blame end-of-2017 stress because we were moving so maybe I wasn't as organized as usual. But now you are starred, and I've posted here, so I should be able to keep up with you.

>79 lauralkeet: No worries, Laura. I’m amazed at all you’ve been able to do in the midst of a move.

Just catching up. We have the same taste in comfort reads -- your thoughts on the Rhys Bowen mysteries are encouraging -- they always pop up in my recommendations here and on Amazon & I am attracted to the cover art style.

Appreciate the recommendations on locked room mysteries, a favorite of mine! You can indeed get The Mystery of the Yellow Room on Kindle for .99, so I picked it up.

>81 fannyprice: Hi, Kris. The Rhys Bowen mysteries are really quite silly at times, but I do enjoy them. Entertainment value more than anything.

>81 fannyprice: It's out of copyright by now, so if you're ereading I'd imagine you could get it free elsewhere.

>53 Trifolia:
I just finished The Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford a fictionalized biography of Agatha Christie focusing on 1928, the year of her divorce and visit to Baghdad an the dig at Urh. She says And Then There Were None was Christie’s favourite book.

>54 NanaCC:
I haven’t heard of Anna Katherine Green so I just bought Anna Katherine Green Ultimate Collection for $1.48. I just finished a book so will try one of her’s now. Where should I start? I see that two series overlap. There are also a number of stand-alones.

>85 pmarshall: Penny, it was Monica who mentioned Anna Katherine Green in >59 Trifolia:. I’ve not read her, so I’m not sure of the starting point.

10. The Amazing Mrs Polifax by Dorothy Gilman, Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

Another trip up to Massachusetts to see two of my grandchildren in a play. (It was actually quite wonderful) I decided to listen to the second book in the Mrs Polifax series, and once again, I had some good laugh out loud moments.

Emily Polifax is given one hour to cancel her karate lesson, make excuses to her garden club, and pack for a trip to Turkey, where her CIA handler sends her to assist a defecting Russian spy. These books are quite funny spoofs, which were written at the height of the Cold War. Perfect for my 5 1/2 hour car ride.

11. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

This was my first time reading David Copperfield, and I loved it. It is no wonder Dickens called it his favorite child. The cast of characters are all so interesting. Uriah Heep gave me the creeps. Betsy Trotwood, David’s aunt, was wonderful. The mean Murdstones couldn’t have been more awful, along with that stinker Steerforth. Mr. Micawber was a hoot. Poor Dora, patient Agnes, Traddles, and innocent Mr Dick, the Peggottys- so many wonderful characters. David Copperfield’s life goes from a sad childhood to a successful adult life, with much sadness and love along the way. Highly recommended.

I read David Copperfield in junior high school. I couldn't get beyond my annoyance at "dumb" Dora. It actually put me off Dickens except for A Tale of Two Cities.

>89 janeajones: That’s a shame, Jane. Dickens really has so much humor in his writing. I didn’t particularly like Great Expectations when I had to read it in high school, but as an adult, I got the humor that had gone over my head when I was younger. As for Dora, she really was sadly nothing but looks and no brains, and even Copperfield knew it after he was no longer just looking at her beauty.

>88 NanaCC: David Copperfield is my favourite Dickens. I've read it a few times since my early teens. I loved Mr. Micawber and Peggotty best.

>88 NanaCC: so far (out of maybe six Dickens novels read), David Copperfield is my fave.

Loved David Copperfield as well as A Tale of Two Cities and Bleak House.

>90 NanaCC: Yes, when I got round to reading Dickens as an adult I was amazed by the humour; it had passed me by completely when I was at school.

>91 VivienneR:, >92 Caroline_McElwee:, >93 Tess_W:, >94 rachbxl: I’m so happy to see all the love for David Copperfield.

Great review of David Copperfield. I've only read one Dickens (Great Expectations) - I loved it, so can't imagine why I've not read any others since. Sounds like a good one to start with next.

Lost track of you back in January somehow, but I'm caught up now. I need to explore Mrs. Pollifax, I think. Very interesting point about the humor in Dickens; I feel like I've always seen it, but I'm pretty sure it was never mentioned in any of our high school reading. As I recall we read Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities. The latter, of course, not very funny I guess, but I have not re-visited it since, so maybe there is the odd smile in it.

>96 AlisonY: I haven’t read many myself Alison. When I asked my daughter which I should read since I was in the mood for a Dickens, she said David Copperfield or Bleak House were her favorites.

>97 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. As long as you go into Mrs Polifax expecting the silliness, I think you’d enjoy it. They were great for my car ride, and as I said, there were some laugh out loud moments. If you do audio, the reader is perfect for that book.

>98 NanaCC: I agree with your daughter, those were my two favorites.

>100 Tess_W: Great minds.... :)

I started reading The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer last night. I think she is one of my guilty pleasures. I’m leaving for Florida on Monday for two weeks, and don’t want to start a paper book before I go. I’ve got loads of books on my kindle, probably 400 or more, and that makes it easier for travel. Trying to decide what I want to read isn’t always easy. I always think I’m going to read more than I do while I’m there. My grandchildren keep me busy, so the reading time is never as much as I expect it to be.

I’m thinking about reading A Child in Time by Ian McEwan, as there will be a Masterpiece adaptation on PBS in April. Has anyone read it?

>102 NanaCC: I haven't read that particular McEwan, Colleen, but McEwan usually hits the mark for me. Would be interested in your thoughts on it if you do read it.

>103 AlisonY: I will definitely read it before the tv show, Alison. Just wondering if it will be too depressing for vacation. I’m looking forward to the Masterpiece adaptation, as I really like Benedict Cumberbatch.

>87 NanaCC::
Mrs. Polifax is wonderful! Since you like her I suggest you try the Mrs. Pargater books by Simon Brett. She is also a widow, her husband was a British mobster and she inherited his black book so when she has a problem she can find help. This series fits into the senior mysteries category. The first is A Nice Class of Corpse.
Funny!

>105 pmarshall: Thank you, Penny. I’ll take a look.

>102 NanaCC: Alison's reviews have made me a fan of Ian McEwan too. I'm glad you mentioned the PBS series in April because I'd like to read the book before watching it. I feel that doing it in reverse always ruins the book.

>107 VivienneR: I agree that reading the book first is the way to go for me. Then I like to see how closely the film or tv adaptation follow the book’s storyline.

>102 NanaCC:
>108 NanaCC:

I have this "fetish" about reading and watching.....must read first and only then watch! There are only a few times the watch has been better.

>96 AlisonY: I've read very little Dickens but have been thinking lately about trying Copperfield. I'll have to pick up a copy. I've always thought his stories would be full of cruelty and sadness, but so are the dark murder mysteries I read. :) You've motivated me!

>109 Tess_W: “There are only a few times the watch has been better.”

I agree completely.

>110 auntmarge64: I’d love to see what you think if you do get to it.

Have a wonderful vacation, Colleen.

Heyer is a great guilty pleasure.

I think my favorite Dickens might be Great Expectations.

I should try Mrs. Pollifax; I think I would enjoy her.

>112 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. I’m happy to get away from the snow for a couple of weeks. My daughter got me hooked on Heyer several years ago. At first I was surprised, because I wouldn’t have said it would be her type of book at all. But the more I read them, the more hooked I get. I love Great Expectations. I’m having trouble deciding a favorite Dickens, and I still have a lot more to go. If you do audio, the reader for the Mrs Polifax series, Barbara Rosenblat, is perfect.

Just waving hello. Catching up on your thread. I finally tried the new movie version of Murder on the Orient Express on a plane flight. I gave it about 30 minutes before I turned it off, annoyed.

>114 dchaikin: Hi Dan . I haven’t seen that movie. What was annoying about it? I’ve heard mixed reviews.

Poirot is wrong in a silly way. I had trouble with the mustache, which doesn’t look real. But also his character is outrageous. Of course, just one opinion. Apologies to anyone who likes the movie.

I was disappointed in the movie too Dan. Such a stellar cast, and it bummed IMO.

It's David Suchet for me as Poirot.

I may still watch the movie when it comes to tv, but I’ll keep expectations in check. I agree Caroline, Suchet is Poirot. His is the face I see when I’m reading one of the books in the Poirot series.

Kenneth Branagh has a tendency to go over the top. David Suchet is Poirot. Albert Finney was pretty good too in the earlier movie.

>88 NanaCC: I managed to completely miss Dickens when I was in school, which I am thinking may have only been a good thing. Last year the book group I'm in read Great Expectations, and I just loved it. Your review of David Copperfield has me thinking that could be a good next read for me on the Dickens front.

>105 pmarshall: I'll have to check out the Mrs. Paragater books as well if they are at all similar to Mrs. Pollifax!

>88 NanaCC::
Similar in that both main characters are widows and have humour, but different in that one is a law abiding American who assists the CIA. Mrs. Pargerer is English, very much a lady and her husband was head of a mob. However she tries to overlook whar he did until she is asked to assist someone and she has to turn to his black book to get help from his former colleagues. Intriguing and amusing!

>119 janeajones: Speaking of Branagh: he will never be Wallander for me.

No, me neither Lois.

>119 janeajones:, >122 avaland:, >123 Caroline_McElwee: Who do you see as Wallander? I’ve never seen anyone else playing that role, so have no comparison.

>120 shadrach_anki: I’d love to hear your thoughts about David Copperfield if you read it. Have you tried Mrs Polifax? I’ll have to look.

Edited to add that I’d forgotten our conversation about Mrs Pollifax. You’ve probably read more of them than I have. :)

>121 pmarshall: I’ll keep Mrs Pargerer in mind when I’m looking to try something new.

>124 NanaCC: Who do you see as Wallander?

I haven't seen this series, but have read all the books. I think it would definitely think it would have to be someone who can be convincingly rumpled and shaggy, but intelligent --- Brendan Gleeson comes to mind. He would have to work on the accent though!

12. The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer

I finished this book on the plane yesterday on my flight to Marco Island, Florida. I’ve said before that Georgette Heyer is one of my guilty pleasures, and this one didn’t disappoint.

Sir Richard Wyndham is being pressured by his family to marry a woman he has known from the time he was a boy. He’s more interested in marrying for love, than for marrying to save her family from their many debts. On the night before he is supposed to propose, he’s walking off too much drink, when a young girl climbs out of a window dressed as a boy. She is also being pressured to marry a cousin she dislikes, and is set to run away. They set off on an adventure that includes robbers and murderers. An entertaining romp.

>125 SassyLassy: I’ve read all of the Wallander books too, Sassy. I’ve only seen a few of the Branagh film versions, so will have to look for others.

13. A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear

Book 11 in the Maisie Dobbs series finds Maisie traveling home to England, while trying to come to grips with tremendous personal loss. Her ship docks in Gibraltar, and Maisie becomes involved in the murder of a photographer. She is determined to stay and discover who the murderer is. The British Secret Service becomes involved, and Maisie is pulled into some intrigue regarding the Spanish civil war. This was an interesting turn.

I’ve seen mixed reviews for this one. Many fans loved it, and others were angry. I’ll not get into why. I think the storyline presented an opportunity for Maisie to branch out. I’m curious to see what happens next.

Amazingly, my daughter, who is a big fan of the Poirot movies with Suchet, absolutely loved the new Murder on the Orient Express movie. She was very skeptical, but she said it took her about 5 minutes to totally embrace the whole thing, Branagh and all. I myself was very put off by the trailers and promos I saw. Still not sure whether to take a look at it or not.

Enjoyed catching up with your reviews here. I saw an adaptation of David Copperfield a few years ago that I enjoyed but I still haven't got round to the book. I'm undecided as to whether to read that or Bleak House as my next Dickens.

I also don't think I could take to anyone other than Suchet playing Poirot now, certainly not the weird Branagh version.

>129 laytonwoman3rd: I might still watch it, Linda, although I will set my expectations accordingly.

>130 valkyrdeath: When I asked my daughter which Dickens I should read, David Copperfield and Bleak House were the two she suggested. I’m guessing you can’t go wrong either way.

>124 NanaCC: There's a Swedish version of Wallander also, but I haven't watched it. Like you I've only seen the Branagh versions and I generally like Branagh (although not as his over-the-top Poirot), so he is Wallander for me.

----

I don't have much to say about Dickens because what I've read hasn't knocked my socks off. However, I really enjoyed two television adaptations, one of Bleak House with Gillian Anderson and the other of Little Dorrit with a very young Claire Foy (now known for playing Queen Elizabeth in The Crown).

>132 lauralkeet: I think we all associate a character with the actor we’ve seen. It is true with audio books, as well. My hubby and I listen to A Christmas Carol every year on our way home from Thanksgiving in CT. We have always listened to the version narrated by Jim Dale. This year we switched to a version read by Simon Prebble. I actually liked this version better, but hubby wasn’t sold on it.

I still haven’t watched season two of The Crown. I was watching the second season of Victoria and was saving The Crown for after I get back from vacation. Hopefully it will still be available.

Enjoy your vacation Colleen.

Thank you, Caro. The weather is cooler than I was expecting, but much warmer than at home.

>133 NanaCC::
I warched the second season of The Crown. It is darker than the first, partly because of the events, the Suez Canal, Charles at school, Margaret, all causing great stress and strain on Elizabeth and the public, with Philip, her marriage and politicians. But they come through the ten years stronger. Interesting take on family and national issues. Netflix still has season 1 so you shouldn’t have a problem seeing season 2.

I like Branagh as Wallander. He is him as he is all I have seen and I thing he portrays the book character well.

>136 pmarshall: I’ll be watching The Crown at the end of this month. Looking forward to it. As for Branagh, I’m fine with watching him as Wallander.

>128 NanaCC: I'm always amazed at the vehement reader reactions to some books; I guess that means that the writer is doing something right, correct? Although I do think Maisie could catch a break... I think this is a great series; for me it's been consistently good. Which reminds me, I should check to see which one is next for me.

I hope you are enjoying the weather.

>138 BLBera: I think the change was needed, Beth, but I may be in the minority. I’m not sure.

14. Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear

Number 12 in the Maisie Dobbs series takes Maisie to Nazi Germany in 1938. The Secret Service has asked her to assume another person’s identity and bring “home” that person’s father from Dachau where he has been held for two years. The man has information that the British government feels they need. The situation in Germany is getting very dicey, so this is a dangerous assignment. It seems that some readers are disappointed in the direction the last two books have gone, but I think a change was needed. I had a hard time putting the book down.

>139 NanaCC:, >140 NanaCC: - Hard to talk about it without spoilers, but what bothered me about the events of those few books in the Maisie Dobbs series was how sudden some of the changes were and then how much happened off-camera/in between books. It seems a bit like Windspear knew the series needed shaking up but still wanted to have Maisie be a character defined by loss and heartbreak, so we end book 10 at point A, which seems to suggest a whole new direction and set of potential plots for the series (not necessarily good ones, mind you). We then start book 11 at point C and are told "oh, all this stuff happened to get us from A to B to C, but you never saw any of that and now we're basically back with the same heroine that we started with."

At the start of book 11, Maisie is single, traumatized by the loss of not just a great love but also a child (which I never had the sense she even wanted in the previous books), and free to roam about the world solving mysteries. It's like Windspear got to have all this change, do all this "character development" that the reader really doesn't get to experience, and then do a handwave to rid Maisie of the complications of being married or having a child while still wanting a career. I don't know that it would have worked or been good for the series, but I think it would have been more of a new direction for the series to see a different Maisie, navigating new relationships and new complications.

Anyway, I keep telling myself, it's just a book. :)

>141 fannyprice: I do understand the frustration with the events that happened in the first few pages of book 11. It would have been nice to see all of that played out, at least for a little while. But for me, I think the secret service scenario was a welcome change to the investigations which were becoming very much the same story, different characters. That was the main reason I had waited so long to read book 12. I found I needed to really spread them out.

>142 NanaCC: I haven't got that far in the series yet but I agree, some new settings and characters would be a welcome change. I'm looking forward to the series.

>143 VivienneR: I think the series is still a good one, and I think you’ll like the change.

>124 NanaCC: Sorry, to be so late getting back to your question. I have not seen the first Wallander adaptation (Swedish) starring Rolf Lassgård, but I've seen all 32 of the 2nd Swedish adaptation starring Krister Hendrisson and I thought he was excellent (I suspect Lassgard is very good, too). I'm not a purist, I'm willing to let the television casting stretch it some, but it has to keep the essence of the character. In this series, though, the actress playing his daughter committed suicide and it affected both Mankell and the cast (and the production).

Anyhow I saw this production before the Branagh came out and while I did watch a fair number of the UK episodes, my heart belongs to Hendrisson (and there is something about it being actually Swedish...).

>145 avaland: I watched both series (maybe not all) and I'm torn about which one I liked more. I liked the Swedish one because it is Swedish, but on the other hand I'm a fan of Kenneth Branagh. It seemed to me that Krister Henriksson gave a more accurate portrayal of Mankell's Wallander.

>145 avaland:,>146 VivienneR: It’s fun to see the differing opinions on the characters we love in books as they are portrayed by actors in series. On the mystery thread, I am interested in so many of the series being mentioned. I didn’t know that there were so many. I’m in trouble. :)

I always promise myself that I'll finish one series before moving on to another, but then I find even more, and more. We are both in trouble.

>147 NanaCC: I didn't know there was such a thread, but I have a feeling I'd best avoid it! I only have a couple of mystery series on the go at the moment, but like Vivian would like to make more progress on them before starting another. And yes, I know that is futile!!

>149 lauralkeet: If you want to be tempted, Laura, Lois’ thread called CRIME NOVELS, MYSTERIES & THRILLERS "THOUGHT SPOT" is here http://www.librarything.com/topic/280015#6426419

>148 VivienneR: Vivienne, I’m hoping that some of the tv series are available here.

15. News of the World by Paulette Jiles

The book was a National Book Award finalist in 2016. An historical novel that takes place just after the Civil War.

71 year old Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd has lived through three wars and is a veteran of two of them. He makes his living going from town to town in north Texas to read the news to audiences of people starved for news from outside their area. They are willing to pay 10 cents to hear him read. As the story begins, Captain Kidd is asked if he would be willing to take a ten year old girl, who had been captured by the Kiowa when her family was slaughtered four years earlier, back to relatives in San Antonio. The family has offered a fifty dollar gold piece for the task. Against his better judgement, he agrees to the dangerous task, which will take them hundreds of miles through hostile territory. The child has become a native in every sense of the word, and has no desire to be taken from the Kiowa, the only family she knows. As the story progresses, the pair develop a bond that gets them through the journey.

I enjoyed this short book (about 200 pages) on my flight home from Florida on Friday. It reminded me a little bit of True Grit or maybe of parts of One Thousand White Women. I thought it was well written, although I would like to have seen the ending developed a bit more. It felt a little rushed at the end. Even so, I think it was worth the read.

>151 NanaCC: I enjoyed this novel too Coleen.

>151 NanaCC: I also loved News of the World, Colleen, but I love most of what she writes.

I also need to stay away from the mystery thread - I think I have about 300 series I'm following on FictFact. It's just that there are so many good ones!

>150 NanaCC: Thanks ... I think. 😀 I actually just favorited that list and quickly closed the tab. Someday I might want need to look ...

>151 NanaCC: I enjoyed that book, too, although I agree with you about the rushed ending.

>146 VivienneR:, >147 NanaCC: I took the conversation here about Wallander and made it an issue over on the Mystery, Crime Novel...thread. AND, I included a cobbled together list of many, many television adaptions of mystery book series.

>155 avaland: I saw your list, Lois, and was amazed by the number of tv adaptations. I’m doomed. I’ll be hard pressed to watch as many as I’d like.

>152 Caroline_McElwee: I thought it was really quite sweet, Caroline.

>153 BLBera: I haven’t read anything else by Paulette Jiles, Beth. I’ll have to look. What next?

Thank heavens for FictFact. It helps me when I’m trying to figure out what I want to read next.

>154 lauralkeet: All I can say is ‘You’re welcome’, Laura. :) Sorry!!

My favorite of Jiles is Enemy Women, another historical novel, but I have liked all of her books. She even wrote a good dystopian one, Lighthouse Island that was really good.

Yes, FictFact is great for holding my place in series.

>156 NanaCC: And I didn't include a lot of the one episode/TV movie adaptations!

16. A Pale Horse by Charles Todd

Book 10 in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series has the Inspector sent to watch for a man who has worked on a secret project for the government. He is kept in the dark about the man’s past, and when he begins to link the man’s disappearance with a victim found miles away at an abbey, he is told to let it go. Why?

This was another enjoyable installment in the series.

I was just sent News of the World as a gift and I'm pleased at the timing with your comments about it. I'm tempted to save it for our annual beach vacation, as everyone seems to want to read a western while we're there and the only others I have on my tbr are by Cormac McCarthy.

>161 RidgewayGirl: I’m sure you’ll enjoy News of the World, Kay. It’s a good story, although my favorite western has to be Lonesome Dove.

17. Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

This is the ninth book in the Her Royal Spyness series. While the series is quite silly, the bits of actual history that the author throws in are interesting to hear. I’ve listened to the books in this series, and the reader is perfect. In this one, Prince George is set to marry Princess Marina of Greece. Georgie is asked to escort her around London and to try to keep stories of George’s indiscretions from reaching the princess’s ears. The body of a woman is found, and since she was at one point one of George’s mistresses, the investigation must be hush hush.

You hit me with a BB on News of the World - sounds intriguing.

>164 AlisonY: I’ll look forward to your comments if you get to it, Alison.

>163 NanaCC: I agree, the series is kind of silly but fun. I didn't realize Bowen featured real people, in this case Prince George and Princess Marina.

>166 VivienneR: the authors note at the end talked about Prince George’s exploits before and after he was married. Georgie and the princess are housed in Kensington Palace while they prepare for the wedding. The descriptions are really good.

Colleen, it's on my list but I have a couple in the series to read first. Looking forward to it.

I'm trying to resist the Bowen, Colleen. I have quite a few series going.

>168 VivienneR: I’m like that with so many series, Vivienne. Not a bad problem to have, I think. :)

>169 BLBera: I can recommend the audio series, if you have a commute, Beth. They are entertaining and good for a chuckle or two.

18. White Houses by Amy Bloom

This novel is a fictionalized story of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and “First Friend” A.P. reporter Lorena Hickok. The story flashes back and forth through time, told from Lorena’s point of view. From her first meeting Eleanor as she covered FDR’s first presidential campaign, her own abused childhood, to the loving relationship that developed between the two women, including time that she lived in the White House.

The author stresses that this is a fictionalized version, although she based it on over 3,000 letters and diaries that are kept at the Roosevelt library in Hyde Park. It is very sad that in all of the family photographs, Hick, as she was called, is cut out of all of them.

Thank you to Lois for the recommendation. I really enjoyed the book.

Colleen! You mentioned Tana French over on my thread and I posted a reply but am repeating it here because it's IMPORTANT: I just stumbled on an announcement of a new Tana French coming in OCTOBER! It's a standalone novel, not part of the "Dublin Murder Squad" series, but still ...

https://bookriot.com/2018/04/05/bust-out-the-confetti-news-new-tana-french-in-oc...

>172 lauralkeet: Excellent! Thank you, Laura. She’s such a good writer. I can’t wait.

>171 NanaCC: Glad you liked it, Colleen.

19. A Matter of Justice by Charles Todd

This book is number eleven in the Ian Rutledge series. At the beginning of the book we find out about an incident that keeps us ahead of the Inspector all the way through his investigation. We have a pretty good idea of who done it. However, for me, it didn’t take anything away from the story. I felt Rutledge’s frustration as he hit dead end after dead end. I’m still enjoying the series and will continue.

The Ian Rutledge series sounds like it is good. I've probably said it before, but I didn't care for the first one I read so I didn't continue. Not that I need another series anyway! But it is one to keep in mind.

Good news about a new Tana French book! That's another series I have to catch up on.

>176 VivienneR: With the Ian Rutledge series, Vivienne, it is his struggle with the after effects of WWI that make the books interesting to me, as long as you can get past the voice in his head.

After I read the first Tana French, I couldn’t wait for each new book to come out. The one to come out this year is a stand-alone, so I’m curious to see where it goes.

>162 NanaCC: Hasn't it been decided that Lonesome Dove is the best western ever? Others might be pretty good, but they aren't Lonesome Dove.

>171 NanaCC: And I have this one on my TBR. I find it very suspicious that we have exactly the same books on our shelves.

I had another look at the Charles Todd page and I may have mixed him (them?) up with another author - I suspect it was Charles Finch. So Ian Rutledge has been added to my series list. Can't go wrong with a CID story.

>178 RidgewayGirl: Kay, I would agree that Lonesome Dove must be the best western ever. :)

I really enjoyed White Houses. It was a Lois recommendation, and we can’t go wrong there. :)

>179 VivienneR: I read the first book by Charles Finch a couple of years ago. It didn’t bowl me over, but I might give the second a try at some point. The Charles Todd series was another Lois recommendation when I first joined LT and mentioned that I loved mysteries. I know that she reached a point where she lost interest. I haven’t reached that point yet. I had recommended it to Rebeccanyc when she started reading mysteries once her illness really took hold. She started plowing through them. I don’t know how far she got.

Yes, I remember Rebecca reading them. I know Todd is really popular with many people.

I was looking at Lonesome Dove recently but it's huge! I don't think I can physically handle a book that size. If I can find an audiobook I'll give it a try and consider the bullet from you and >178 RidgewayGirl:. I don't think I've ever read a western.

Can't remember what the Finch book was about, but it featured a cute empty-headed upper-crust ninny that put me right off. :)

ETA: >171 NanaCC: Rebecca recommended Amy Bloom too!

I keep hearing really good things about Lonesome Dove, but I haven't read it yet. Or listened to it; I have the audio version on my Audible wishlist. >181 VivienneR: I agree the physical copy is huge!

The Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries do sound interesting. I've been finding enjoyment in historical mysteries lately, so I will have to add that series to my (ever growing, never shrinking) list of books to investigate.

>181 VivienneR: >182 shadrach_anki: Huge, but well worth the time. I’ve listened to a few other McMurtrys, but I actually read Lonesome Dove. I think you’d enjoy.

Vivienne, I’ve never read anything by Amy Bloom before, but Lois recommended White Houses. I will need to look for more.

Anki, the Ian Rutledge series is interesting. He is recovering from what I assume is PTSD, and carries around with him a voice of a soldier he was forced to have executed. It is definitely a series that needs to be started at the beginning.

>181 VivienneR: When you get around to reading/listening to Lonesome Dove make sure you skip the forward/introduction. The one written by the freaking author has a huge horrible spoiler. I am waiting a few more years before I try reading it, to make sure I've forgotten the revealed plot point.

>184 ELiz_M: That’s a great point, Liz. I almost never read forwards or intros for that reason. I’ve had several books spoiled for me because of plot points revealed ahead of time.

>184 ELiz_M: Good advice! Like Colleen (>185 NanaCC:) I keep intros and forewords until after I've read the book. Too many include spoilers.

Hey Colleen - I read the first in the Rutledge series and liked it. I will definitely continue. Eleven?! It's nice to find a series I liked; I have go-to reading.

>187 BLBera: Oh good! I’m glad you liked it, Beth. I always hope that others will like the books that I do, but I know we all have unique tastes. LT shows 20 in the series, so I have more good reading to go. :)

20. What Remains of Heaven by C. S. Harris, narrated by Davina Porter

Number five in the Sebastian St. Cyr series set in early 1800’s London, was the best yet. The Bishop of London is found murdered in an ancient crypt. Beside him is another unidentified body which appears to have been murdered at least twenty years earlier. Sebastian’s aunt asks him to help identify the bishop’s murderer. The investigation brings him in contact with Miss Hero Jarvis, with whom he has an odd relationship. The historical tidbits in these stories often lead me to the internet to see if I can separate fact from fiction. The author has a Ph.D in history, which I believe adds authenticity to the historical aspects of these stories.

>189 NanaCC: I've read the first two in this series and liked them. I need to get back to it. I'll check to see if my library has audiobooks - I think they would work well in that format.

>190 BLBera: I’ve only listened to these, Beth, and Davina Porter’s narration is excellent. My library doesn’t have them, but I get them through my Audible subscription.

21. Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Number ten in the Royal Spyness series has Lady Georgiana and her fiancé Darcy O’Mara setting out to elope, when they get caught in a snowstorm forcing them to stop for cover. The newspaper headline they read at their stop has Darcy running off to Ireland to support his father who has been charged with murder. Ever the optimist, Georgiana assures him that his father must be innocent, and they set out to prove it.

22. On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Katherine Kellgren

I decided to move right on with the next book in the series, as it kept my knitting project moving along as I listened. Lady Georgiana and Darcy have decided to have a proper wedding, and to do so, Georgiana must petition the queen to be taken out of the line of royal succession. The queen asks to see her, and when she finds out that Georgie is planning to go to Italy to spend time with her friend Belinda, she asks her to do a little spying for her. Queen Mary asks Georgie to attend a house party that will be near the villa Georgie is going to. The queen’s son David, the Prince of Wales, and the dreadful Mrs. Simpson will be at the party, and the queen is worried that it might be for a secret wedding. There is, of course, danger involved when Georgiana gets there. A Nazi general, an Italian count who is also a Nazi supporter, and the Prince of Wales. What could possibly go wrong?

I really enjoy these books, which bring in the historical aspects of the time. I’ll have to wait for the next one, which I believe is due out this summer.

Not too long a wait then. :-)

>193 avaland: Not a long wait at all, Lois. And I have plenty of others to keep me busy. :)

23. Tangerine by Christine Mangan

Joyce Carol Oates’ endorsement for this novel says ”As if Donna Tartt, Gillian Flynn, and Patricia Highsmith had collaborated on a screenplay to be filmed by Hitchcock —- suspenseful and atmospheric.”

My comment... Not bad for a first novel. Two young women, Alice and Lucy, become roommates and fast friends at Bennington College in Vermont, until something happens to split them apart. (We gradually learn what it was that split them apart.) The story begins with Alice and her husband in Morocco around 1956 as the country is gaining its independence from France. Alice’s husband is enthralled with the city of Tangiers, while Alice is frightened and nervous. Lucy shows up unexpectedly and uninvited. From there the tension builds. The narration of the chapters moves back and forth between Alice and Lucy with their differing versions of the story as it moves forward, and through flashbacks to their days in Vermont. At first we aren’t sure whose version is the right one, but as the story continues everything becomes clear and you know that disaster is just waiting to happen. I thought it was pretty good. Maybe not perfect, but I enjoyed it.

I read that George Clooney bought the rights for a movie, and Scarlett Johansson has signed on to star in it. The book has mixed reviews, but all seem to indicate that it would make a great movie.

The book cover is perfect.

>195 NanaCC: That cover is perfect. And you've made me want to read it, imperfect though it may be.

>195 NanaCC: that book has been calling my name. Maybe I'll get it from the library one of these days.

>195 NanaCC: Hmmmm....I may have taken a hit here.

>196 RidgewayGirl:, >197 lauralkeet:, >198 laytonwoman3rd: On sale for kindle at $2.99 right now. Just saying.

>199 NanaCC: Don't do the kindle thing (at least not for books). But my library has five copies, and I've put it on hold!

>200 laytonwoman3rd: There are times that I am so grateful for my kindle. The storm that came through yesterday knocked out our power at about 4:00 in the afternoon. It didn’t come on again until 5:30 this morning. At least I was able to sit in the dark and read my book. But I do understand the reluctance you have about the kindle. I’ve just become used to the convenience. :)

24. The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Jonathan Keeble and Katy Sobey

In 1944, Hugo Langley, a British bomber pilot, parachutes from his plane before it crashes into the Tuscan countryside, which at the time was occupied by the Germans. A young woman, Sofia, risks everything to help him survive, and they fall in love. Thirty years later, Hugo’s daughter, Joanna, has returned home from London to attend his funeral. While going through his things, she finds a letter that he had written to Sofia. A letter that had been returned unopened with the notation that she was not at this address. Joanna goes to Tuscany to learn more about the past that her father never told her about. The story goes back and forth between 1944 and 1974.

I enjoyed this story and the mystery involved. The descriptions of Tuscany were vivid, and the descriptions of the food made me hungry. :)

25. The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate-Discoveries From a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben

Margaret (auntmarge64) had reviewed this book a little while ago, and the science nerd part of me downloaded it right away. It was definitely a fascinating read.

I will never look at trees the same way again.

From the book description:
”In the Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests and explains the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the amazing scientific processes behind the wonders of which we are blissfully unaware. Much like human families, tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, and support them as they grow, sharing nutrients with those who are sick or struggling and creating an ecosystem that mitigates the impact of extremes of heat and cold for the whole group. As a result of such interactions, Trees in a family or community are protected and can live to be very old. In contrast, solitary trees, like street kids, have a tough time of it and die much earlier than those in a group. Drawing on groundbreaking new discoveries, Wohlleben presents the science behind the secret and previously unknown life of trees and their communication abilities; he describes how these discoveries have informed his own practices in the forest around him. As he says, a happy forest is a healthy forest, and he believes that eco-friendly practices are not only economically sustainable but also benefit the health of our planet and the mental and physical health of all who live on Earth.

This past week, I was visiting my daughter in Massachusetts, and I was telling her about how interesting much of the detail was. I thought that the science teacher in the school might be interested in it, as she is always taking the kids outside to explore. My granddaughter who is almost twelve piped up and told me that the teacher had read a lot of the book to the class, and she proceeded to enlighten us with the things she had learned. I’m sure the teacher read an abridged version, as there is a lot of repetition, but I was delighted that she was so informed.

I've been eyeing that Colleen, but as I have at least five other tree books in the pile from recent years including The Wisdom of Trees by Max Adams, which I bought a week or two ago....

Lovely to have such a teacher.

>204 Caroline_McElwee: Oh, the problem of too many books. Isn’t it wonderful that we have so many choices, Caroline. And yes, I am so impressed with their school overall.

>195 NanaCC: Well, that was tempting (and I do have a hard time resisting JCO's blurbs....)

>206 avaland: :-) It is a fairly quick read. The JCO blurb caught my eye too.

26. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

This was clearly an homage to the Golden Age of crime novels. Agatha Christie would be proud. It is a novel within a novel, and the two mysteries are cleverly interwoven. Susan Ryeland, the editor of Cloverleaf Books is given a manuscript by their famous author, Alan Conway. Alan is the company’s cash cow. We read the manuscript, a mystery, along with Susan, only to find out that the final chapters are missing. I won’t add more, because the mystery within the mystery is fun to read. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. And, you get two for the price of one.

>208 NanaCC: I have that one on the shelf. Glad to get your opinion, now I know for sure I will like it.

>209 VivienneR: Vivienne, I think you will enjoy it. My daughter was also reading it, and said that she was so angry when the reading of the manuscript stopped just as the detective was about to reveal the murderer. I had to laugh, but then I was already well into the second mystery.

I think it was cleverly done.

>203 NanaCC: So glad you loved The Hidden Life of Trees! I'm delighted it's getting into schools, because trees are so very different than we thought and our treatment of them so antithetical to what they need.

>211 auntmarge64: And we need them. Our planet is suffering, and the naysayers just don’t get it. Thank you for the recommendation, Margaret. It was right up my alley.

27. Hall of Mirrors: Bryant and May by Christopher Fowler, narrated by Tim Goodman

In this latest installment of the Bryant and May series, the author takes us back to 1969, when the young cops, Arthur Bryant and John May,have been given the task of protecting a whistle blower, Monty Hatton Jones. Monty tells them that if they want him to testify, they must accompany him to a country house party, rather than keep him in London over the weekend. There is an odd assortment of guests at this party, and Bryant and May are sure that someone is there to cause mischief to keep Monty from testifying. There does seem to be someone with something sinister in mind. It was a change from previous books where Bryant has aged, and has started to become forgetful. The young cops are just starting to come into their own as detectives in the Peculiar Crimes Unit. I’ll be interested to see if Fowler continues the series, or if this is a last hurrah for the team.

28. War Brides by Helen Bryan

I was interested to see how this novel would handle the lives of women during WWII. My mother was a war bride, marrying my father who was an American soldier she met while working in England. I often thought she should have written a book, as the stories she told us were so interesting.

In this book, five women from very different backgrounds come together in a small village on the coast of England called Crowmarsh Priors. A British debutante, a vicars daughter, a young girl who is an evacuee from a very poor neighborhood in London, a young Jewish bride who has escaped the Nazis with her new husband, and an American beauty who arrives married to the man the vicars daughter had been engaged to. Despite their differences, they form a bond that helps them survive the shortages of food and just about everything else, along with constant danger during the frequent air raids. The book’s ending with the women reuniting in the village for a fifty year reunion was a bit rushed, but overall I enjoyed the book. I’d probably give it 3 or 3.5 stars.

Hi Colleen: Tangerine sounds interesting... I will check to see if it's in my library. I already had the tree book on my list; it sounds fascinating. I also want to start the Bryant and May series. I need more hours in the day!

I agree about the convenience of the e-readers. I use mine at the gym and traveling mainly.

>208 NanaCC: I tend to stick mostly to the Golden Age books when I read mysteries, so Magpie Murders sounds like a really fun read. I've never read anything by Horowitz but I'll try and get round to this one.

>215 BLBera: Beth, Bryant and May is a fun series with lots of historical facts about London thrown in. I would start at the beginning, and if you do audio, the reader is really perfect for the series. Tangerine is quite good. I would recommend it.

As for my kindle, I am so thankful right now. I had cataract surgery this week, and while my distance vision is perfect, my reading vision is clearly not. (Pun intended) At least with the kindle I can change the font to a size I can read. It takes a month for the eyes to settle down, so I need to wait to get the perfect reading glasses. For now, I’ll probably try all the different strengths that I can get at the pharmacy.

>216 valkyrdeath: I think you’d enjoy Magpie Murders. It was definitely fun for me.

>214 NanaCC:::
I had considered War Brides, it is available through Kindle Unlimited, but didn't borrow it. I now have it and it may be my next book. A break from Dick Francis.
Penny

>208 NanaCC::
Amazon.ca has this for $3.99. It sounds intriguing.
Penny

I hope your recovery from your cataract surgery goes well, Colleen. And hooray for the ability to change fonts on the e-reader.

All my best wishes for a speedy recovery after your cataract surgery, Colleen.

>218 pmarshall:, >219 pmarshall: I think you’d like both books, Penny. War Brides wasn’t what I was expecting, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying it.

>220 BLBera:, >221 VivienneR: Cataract surgery is “easy peasy”, Beth and Vivienne. I’m really delighted. I hadn’t realized how bad my cataracts were until after having the first eye done, I was looking at my neighbor’s house across the street. When I looked with just the eye that had been done I could tell the house was white, when I looked with the eye that hadn’t been done, it looked more yellow. Everything is bright and clear now, and as I said, my distance vision is perfect. I will need reading glasses, I just need to wait about a month to find out the correct strength.

29. The Red Door by Charles Todd

This book is number twelve in the Ian Rutledge series. Murder, secrets, and lies offer Rutledge challenges to solve several puzzles. How does the disappearance of a man named Teller fit in with the murder of a woman whose last name is also Teller, when the man’s family insist they have no connection to her? There are a couple of subplots - one involved Rutledge’s godfather, another involved a young man whose robbery actions at knifepoint eventually end in murder. This installment was not one of the better ones, but I enjoyed it.

Also wishing you a speedy recovery to reading form. My mom had one eye done a couple years ago and could not be happier.

>224 janemarieprice: Thank you, Jane. I’m so happy that my distance vision is perfect that having to wear reading glasses is a small price to pay. I just think technology is amazing.

30. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell

Vivienne put this series on my radar, and this first book was pretty good. Ruth Galloway is an archaeologist and lectures at university. Her home is in a little hideaway called Saltmarsh overlooking the North Sea. DCI Harry Nelson asks Ruth for help when bones are found on the marshes. He has been searching for a missing child for ten years, and he hopes and fears that the bones are those of Lucy. The bones turn out to be thousands of years old, but Ruth becomes involved in the investigation. I thought the atmosphere was well done. I liked Ruth who seemed no nonsense and comfortable in her own skin. I’ll definitely continue with the next book.

>226 NanaCC: Colleen, I just started The Janus Stone the next in the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths and I'm enjoying it so much. I really like Ruth's character. If the first 50 pages are anything to go by this one will be even better than The Crossing Places.

>227 VivienneR: That’s good to know, Vivienne. I am driving to Massachusetts on Thursday to visit my daughter for a bit over a week. I downloaded The Janus Stone for my drive. It’s about a five hour drive each way, and a good book always makes it seem shorter.

Enjoy the visit with your daughter, Colleen! Glad I was able to recommend the listening material.

>226 NanaCC: Intriguing...

>230 laytonwoman3rd: hee hee...

I'm happy to see another Ruth fan; I would love to have a drink with her. I just finished the latest one, and I've loved the series. I think the characters are better than the mysteries in some, but Ruth keeps me coming back.

A Lonely Death by Charles Todd

Number thirteen in the Inspector Rutledge series finds the Inspector called to a Sussex village where three men have been murdered with a garrote. The three men were all soldiers during the Great War, and survived only to meet this awful end. Each had a soldier’s identity disc in their mouth, but the disc was not their own. Another death occurs after Rutledge arrives, and he and the local constabulary are pressed to find the murderer before any other man is killed. This was a good entry in the series. I still haven’t tired of them.

>222 NanaCC::
I read and enjoyed both books. War Brides was interesting because, without much emphasis, it brought together a diverse group of women who all suffered in different and the same ways from WW II.
Magpie Murders was two books in one. The first a take on an Agatha Christie and the second a modern day murder. I got taken up by the first and was surprised when the second intruded. I had to reread the first chapter!
Thanks for the recommendations.
Penny

>234 pmarshall: I’m glad you enjoyed them, Penny.

>232 BLBera: Sorry I missed your post, Beth. I’m just about finished with The Janus Stone. I’m really enjoying it. I’ll finish it this week while driving around after dropping my grandson off at his camp. I’ll have to decide on something else to listen to for my drive home to NJ on the 2nd. I have a few waiting in the queue.

I did download a few Charles Todd's a while ago. I should nudge him up the pile Colleen.

>236 Caroline_McElwee: I know that I had recommended them to Rebecca when she told us she was ill, Caroline. She had started reading mysteries, and she was devouring them. I think she got through ten or eleven of these before she passed.

32. The Confession by Charles Todd

This is the 14th book in the Ian Rutledge series. A dying man walks into Rutledge’s office and confesses to a murder. Only the name he gives is not his own. The confession leads to a rather complicated case after the man is found murdered.

33. The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths, narrated by Jane McDowell

This is the second book in the Ruth Galloway series. I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first. The bones of a young child are found during the demolition of an old school. Ruth is brought in to define the age of the bones, and finds herself closer to the investigation than she’d like to be, as it seems she is being stalked.

Time for a new thread...