First things First. This is the sixth book in a mystery series begun in 2019 and I missed the memo. That meant that when I started Murder at the White Palace, I found the beginning slow as I had to do the middle of a continuing story catch up on the characters. Iris Sparks, is … Continue reading Murder at the White Palace – Allison Montclair
Category: Book Reviews
The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese (Audio book read by the Author)
Months ago, I finished the over thirty hours audible version of The Covenant of Water, read by the author. It is one of my favorite books I have ever read, made even more so by hearing the words read as the author means them to be heard. We are immediately drawn into a family in … Continue reading The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese (Audio book read by the Author)
Sometimes, you just need a cozy Victorian Romantic Historical Fiction Mystery or three…:
The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart (Audible) – Nancy Campbell Allen, Narrator – Dannielle Cohen An enjoyable historical fiction romance/detective novel. Amelie Hampton, orphaned daughter from the wrong branch of the well-regarded, well-born Hamptons, lives in a rooming house owned by her Aunt Sallie, who raised Amelie and her two cousins after each lost their parents. They all work for … Continue reading Sometimes, you just need a cozy Victorian Romantic Historical Fiction Mystery or three…:
The Stolen Child – Ann Hood (audio narrator Jefferson Mays)
"The Stolen Child" is a beautifully written book and Jefferson Mays provided exceptional narration in the audio version. We move among characters from Nick, first shown in WWI in a trench in France; to Jenny, a 19 year old college dropout waitressing at IHop in the early 1970's; to Enzo, a Nativity set craftsman in … Continue reading The Stolen Child – Ann Hood (audio narrator Jefferson Mays)
Red Side Story – Jasper Fforde (audio version narrated by Jasper Fforde and Chris Harper)
I discovered Jasper Fforde early on with his first Thursday Next mystery and have ridden his rollercoaster of quirky, absurdist, full of social commentary novels ever since. For fans like me, Red Side Story, with a touch of Sci-Fi, a touch of fantasy and a dystopian vibe is a total win. Each time Fforde tries … Continue reading Red Side Story – Jasper Fforde (audio version narrated by Jasper Fforde and Chris Harper)
I Cheerfully Refuse – Leif Enger (Audio Narrator: David Allen Baker)
"I Cheerfully Refuse" is a near future dystopian novel that I "read" via an audio version. I keep not reviewing it because I loved it and want to do it justice, but it is a novel that is easy to inadvertently spoil. Generally speaking, there has been some climate related disaster that has resulted in … Continue reading I Cheerfully Refuse – Leif Enger (Audio Narrator: David Allen Baker)
Thunder Bay – William Kent Krueger (Audible Narrator David Chandler)
So delighted that someone recommended William Kent Krueger's writing in a post I read. I jumped into the middle of the Cork O'Conner series because Audible included some of his work in its plus catalogue. (lets you have additional books at no additional charge). This is the 7th book in the series. Cork's close friend … Continue reading Thunder Bay – William Kent Krueger (Audible Narrator David Chandler)
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library – Michiko Aoyama (Audible narrators -Hanako Footman, Susan Momoko Hingley, Kenichiro Thomson, Wilson Ting, Shiro Kawai)
In a ward in Tokyo there is a community building next to the elementary school. The two buildings used to be attached but now, to get to the community building you have to walk around back to the separate entrance. There are free adult classes, a farmers market some days and a large room that … Continue reading What You Are Looking For Is in the Library – Michiko Aoyama (Audible narrators -Hanako Footman, Susan Momoko Hingley, Kenichiro Thomson, Wilson Ting, Shiro Kawai)
Caste – Isabel Wilkerson (Audible Audio Narrator – Robin Miles)
Isabel Wilkerson, through one story after another, woven together with historically sound reflections helps us reframe what the USA did. In order to make it work. We've always known our ancestors had to dehumanize the Black people they kidnapped and enslaved, worked to the bone and tortured. But what happened because of that dehumanization was … Continue reading Caste – Isabel Wilkerson (Audible Audio Narrator – Robin Miles)
The Highgate Cemetery Murder – Irina Shapiro (Audio narrator – Imogen Church)
I greatly enjoyed what I now understand to be a first entry in at least a two part series featuring Gemma Tate, a thirty-something year old nurse who served in Crimea under Florence Nightingale and Sebastian Bell, a talented but opium using police detective. It is 1858. Victorian London. Women are decidedly expected to stay … Continue reading The Highgate Cemetery Murder – Irina Shapiro (Audio narrator – Imogen Church)
They Called me Bookworm 