Three Books --- One Post

Well, it just has been too hard to get to a computer lately. I wish I could say that I was touring the Denali National Park or something to that effect, but it just wouldn't be true. Nevertheless, here's what I've been reading:

"Strawberry Shortcake Murder" is the second of the Hannah Swensen cooking mystery series. I've read a couple of other books by JoAnne Fluke as well. This one involves Hannah's sister a bit more. Again, there is nothing earth-shattering here, but it is a nice, pleasant little read. Hannah is becoming more involved with Mike, the new detective in town, and Norm, a local dentist.






"Defend and Betray" is the third book in Anne Perry's Inspector Monk series. Once again, I'm longing for more of Monk! This particular tome further develops the character and dynamics between Hester Latterly, private nurse, Monk, now a private enquiry agent and Oliver Rathbone, a lawyer known to both. The part of the book further exploring Hester and lawyer's relationship is good, and we do get to see a bit more of Monk as he continues to struggle with amnesia. The very best part of the book is the last extended episode in which Rathbone extracts a confession of sorts as well as an explanation for the murder. It is great Perry Mason type of stuff. All in all, I did enjoy this book better than the previous one.




Finally, I just finished a most delightful read, Elizabeth Peter's "Crocodile on the Sandbank." This is a first in a series following "spinster" amateur archaeologist and classicist Amelia Peabody. I absolutely adore Amelia, and I'm sure most people would. Her frankness, audacity, boldness, courage and phenomenal mastery of the English language are simply wonderful. Although I had figured out the mystery well before the end of the book, I didn't care! I loved the entire Peabody experience. I would write more of the plot, but suffice to say a mummy is involved, a love triangle --- a second love story with no triangle and great Egyptian scenery. What a blast!

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.

Dangerous Mourning Puts Me in Mourning

OK. I'm disappointed. If this is an "Inspector Monk" novel, then why is someone else solving the cases?

I was REALLY excited to read the second of the Inspector Monk novels by Anne Perry. The first novel, "The Face of a Stranger," was wonderful. I had anticipated that our intrepid Inspector Monk would continue his journey through his amnesiac episode and that we would learn more and more about him. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

In a plot line too similar to the second of the Inspector Pitt series, a nurse friend of Monk's takes up residence within the aristocratic household to ferret out information and discern who might have murdered one of the daughters of the household. The story begins to revolve completely around nurse Hester Latterly. And, just as in the first book, one of the family members is the guilty party.

All in all, this book was a bitter let down. I'm hoping for better in the third book, but if that one doesn't knock my socks off, I may have to beg off this series.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable!

Murder in an Upscale Square

Anne Perry's second mystery following Charlotte Pitt and her husband Inspector Thomas Pitt focuses on the discovery of two dead babies buried in a fashionable London square. Charlotte's sister, a member of the upper-crust, helps Charlotte out by weaving in and out of society and reporting the gossip the ladies discuss at their afternoon callings for tea.

While this is a good mystery, I was certainly hoping to see and learn more of Inspector Pitt. Charlotte is such a likable character, but I want to know more of Pitt and his background. There is a good cast of characters and suspects, and Perry's treatment of General Balantyne is quite wonderful. He is a true Victorian gentleman, and apparently the only honest one of the bunch.

We see a lot more of the unseemly side of Victorian England in this novel, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, Cater Street Hangman. All in all, an OK read, but something was missing for me.

Face of a Stranger

I picked up the first book of Anne Perry's other Victorian mystery series entitled "The Face of a Stranger." This book shows a bit more maturity in writing, and it is a bit more introspective in that we get to know the main character William Monk in a more personal and intimate way than we do Inspector Pitt in "Cater Street Hangman."

The story begins with Monk waking in a hospital suffering from a head injury. This sounds trite, but Perry really pulls it off. We get to watch Monk go through the process of recovering his memory while attempting to hide it from his superiors and his other associates. We watch Monk struggle to find out what kind of man he was/is, and not liking what he discerns and learns. We also cheer when his intuition and abilities surface, as he instinctively navigates through the maze of Victorian culture.

This story is replete with plot twists and great characters. I really enjoyed reading it, and I'm looking forward to see what else Monk does in the future. The ending was satisfying, but there are plenty of loose ends to make future developments quite interesting.

All in all, this one is another winner!

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.

Victorian Mystery Theme Continues

I just finished another Victorian-era mystery. This one is the first in a series about Inspector Pitt published in 1979 by Anne Perry. It's called "The Cater Street Hangman."

This book is finely nuanced. While Will Thomas hits you with fast-action, witty, sly commentary and rather exotic characters, Tyler's book mirrors Victorian restraint. The characters are well-developed, and the plot moves along nicely with the requisite twists, turns and surprises. I would have liked to know more about Pitt, but I know more will information will follow. I am anxious to see how the romance between Pitt and the privleged Charlotte comes along. I believe those would be my only "wishes" for this book. I truly enjoyed it, stayed up way too late reading it and can't wait for the next installment!

On a sidenote, Anne Perry has a rather interesting background and childhood. She and a girlfriend murdered the girlfriend's mother back in the early 1950s. You can read more about it here. Ms. Perry herself has a website with wonderful information on her books and her style as well.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.