NanaCC's 2015 Reading Part 2

I'm Colleen, and I have no formal plans for the year, but will continue to read books that either are about WWI, or take place during the time period of the Great War. I also want to continue reading Trollope's Chronicles of Barsetshire.

I have shelves and a Kindle full of books on my TBR. And of course, I will be pulled toward other books that are highlighted by the folks in this group.

CURRENTLY READING:



Case Histories: A Novel by Kate Atkinson

ON DECK




Currently Listening:



Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel by by A. J. Hartley & David Hewson, Narrated by Richard Armitage



Finn: A Novel by Jon Clinch, Narrated by Ed Sala

Books Read 2015

Print/Kindle:

(1936) 44- August Folly by Angela Thirkell
(1950) 43- Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym
(1920) 42- In the Mountains by Elizabeth von Arnim
(1961) 41- No Fond Return of Love: A Novel by Barbara Pym
(2011) 40- My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Ann Goldstein (Translator)
(2009) 39- The Complaints by Ian Rankin
(2009) 38- The Brutal Telling: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny
(2013) 37- A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
(1994) 36- The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
(2012) 35- The Yard by Alex Grecian
(1938) 34- Pomfret Towers by Angela Thirkell
(2015) 33- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
(1997) 32- Black and Blue by Ian Rankin
(1995) 31- Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin
(1858) 30- Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope
(2006) 29- The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
(2015) 28- A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
(2013) 27- Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
(2013) 26- Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear
(1951) 25- Loving Without Tears by M. J. Farrell
(2008) 24- A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
(1970) 23- Troubles by J. G. Farrell
(1980) 22- A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr
(1937) 21- Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1935) 20- Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1934) 19- The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1933) 18- Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1932) 17- Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1931) 16- The Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1930) 15- Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1928) 14- The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1927) 13- Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1926) 12- Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers
(1815) 11- Emma by Jane Austen
(1923) 10- Whose Body? (A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery) by Dorothy L. Sayers
(2003) 9- Nineteen Eighty Three: The Red Riding Quartet, Book Four by David Peace
(2001) 8- Nineteen Eighty: The Red Riding Quartet, Book Three by David Peace
(2000) 7- Nineteen Seventy-Seven: The Red Riding Quartet, Book Two by David Peace
(1999) 6- Nineteen Seventy-Four: The Red Riding Quartet, Book One by David Peace
(1953) 5- Cotillion by Georgette Heyer
(2004) 4- Passion: A Novel of the Romantic Poets by Jude Morgan
(1941) 3- The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson
(2008) 2- Coventry by Helen Humphreys
(1943) 1- The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D. E. Stevenson

Audio:

(2011) 13- The Merry Misogynist: The Dr. Siri Investigations by Colin Cotterill, Narrated by Clive Chafer
(2015) 12- Bryant & May The Burning Man by Christopher Fowler, Narrated by Tim Goodman
(2011) 11- The End of the Wasp Season: A Novel by Denise Mina, Narrated by Jane McFarlan
(1861) 10- Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope, Narrated by Timothy West
(2014) 9- A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre, Narrated by John Lee
(2011) 8- A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley, Narrated by Jayne Entwistle
(2015) 7- Lamentation by C. J. Sansom, Narrated by Steven Crossley
(2009) 6- Still Midnight by Denise Mina, Narrated by Jane MacFarlane
(2012) 5- The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith, Narrated by Lisette Lecat
(1951) 4- The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, Narrated by Colin Firth
(2010) 3- The weed that strings the hangman's bag by C. Alan Bradley, Narrated by Jayne Entwistle
(2007) 2- The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny, Narrated by Ralph Cosham
(2010) 1- An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd, Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

2015 Stats
Books Read Total = 57
Print/Kindle = 44; Audio = 13; Women authors = 32; New to me authors = 14; WWI related = 3

2014 Stats
Books Read Total = 65
Print/Kindle = 42; Audio = 23; Women authors = 33; New to me authors = 30; WWI related = 13

Plays Read = 2

My final thread for 2014 is http://www.librarything.com/topic/179660.

I read a lot of great books in 2014, making it hard to pick favorites. Here are my final picks:

Favorite Fiction
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Favorite Mystery
The Secret Place by Tana French
The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
The Crocodile Bird by Ruth Rendell

Favorite WWI
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
A Long, Long Way by Sebastian Barry
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally

Favorite Surprise Favorite
The Warden by Anthony Trollope
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope

Favorite Non-Fiction
Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink

Favorite Audio
Macbeth: A Novel by A. J. Hartley, David Hewson, Narrated by Alan Cumming

Most Disappointing
The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley

Books Acquired 2015 (only includes books I've purchased-clearly I don't need to buy more-ha)

Pomfret Towers by Angela Thirkell
The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
Black and Blue by Ian Rankin
Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (Kindle)
A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (Kindle)
Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear (Kindle)
The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina (Audible)
Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope (Audible)
Lamentation by C.J. Sansom (Audible)
A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley (Audible)
Still Midnight by Denise Mina (Audible)
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley (Audible)
GI Brides: The Wartime Girls Who Crossed the Atlantic for Love by Duncan Barrett (Kindle)
The Long Way Home (Chief Inspector Gamache) by Louise Penny (Kindle)
How the Light Gets In: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny (Kindle)
The Beautiful Mystery: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny (Kindle)
A Trick of the Light (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel) by Louise Penny (Kindle)
Bury Your Dead: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny (Kindle)
The Brutal Telling: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny (Kindle)
August Folly by Angela Thirkell
The Brandons by Angela Thirkell
Summer Half by Angela Thirkell
Gods and Beasts by Denise Mina

23. Have His Carcass by Dorothy Sayers

In this book, Sayers gets back to the Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane romance, and provides a pretty complicated murder mystery as well. The story starts with Harriet taking a walking tour, and while walking on an isolated beach she discovers a body. She tries to get help, and finally makes it to town where she heads to the police station. Mysterious strangers she meets along the way add to the list of possible suspects. Of course Lord Peter comes rushing to her aid. (Not that she wants it). The dialog between the two characters is charming, and Harriet still keeps saying "No" to Wimsey's proposals of marriage. Bunter is once again on hand to help with the detecting. Very enjoyable.

In the author's note, Sayers says that "In The Five Red Herrings, the plot was invented to fit a real locality; in this book the locality has been invented to fit the plot."



24. Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers

This is one of Sayers better Wimsey stories. A death at an ad agency has been written off as accidental due to a fall down a steep flight of stairs. The victim's sister doesn't believe it, after finding a partially written note that looks as if he was going to rat someone out. Peter is called in to do some undercover sleuthing. He discovers murder and a drug scheme. Very clever.

I am now on to the last three in the series (I am saving the Short Story Collections for a later date).

I have two weeks of watching grandchildren for spring break, and then I may stop my light fiction kick.

Having just arrived home yesterday, driving through snow in the Alps on the way home, I'm stuck with the feeling that spring should really be further along than it is here. I was in a light cardigan on vacation and now I need to consider socks and jackets again. Unfair!

I'm glad you had good vacation reading. How is your foot?

>6 RidgewayGirl:. We still have a little snow in spots, Kay, but I think/hope that spring is starting to poke its head out. I've still been wearing sweaters under a light jacket, although I think a few afternoons this week a sweater would have been enough. I love sweater weather, and it is never long enough around here. Spring is usually too short, and autumn sometimes arrives so late that winter pops in too soon.

Vacation was wonderful. I hope that yours was too.

As for my foot, I have heel pain, but haven't had time to get to doctors. If I can get a night appointment, I'll try this week. Looking online, I have been treating it somewhat with ice and Advil, but I'm sure I need orthotics in my shoes.

>7 NanaCC: If your heel pain is plantar fasciitis, Colleen, there are exercises you can do. for it. They take a while to work, but when I had it they were very helpful. The only one I remember involved sitting on the floor or the bed, looping a scarf around the top of the foot (i.e., the toes) and pulling it towards you for about 20 repetitions. There were some others too, but I gave the sheet of paper I had them on to someone else. One involved pushing yourself away from a wall, but I forget the details. Basically, the exercises are designed to stretch your muscles that are involved with heel motion.

ETA These exercises were "prescribed" for me by a podiatrist.

>8 rebeccanyc: Thanks, Rebecca. I am assuming that is what it is. I'll look up some exercises online. I was hoping to take the kids to the zoo one day this week, but I don't think I can manage it right now.

>9 NanaCC: Good luck, Colleen. Here is a link to a page with a lot of the exercises I did..

Love all the Dorothy L. Sayers reviews! I'm preparing a tbr list from them!

I hope you solve your heel problem soon. It's no fun being in pain and not being able do all the things you want to do.

>11 VivienneR: Have you read any of the Peter Wimsey stories, Vivienne? They are quite entertaining.

I love Lord Peter Wimsey. Of all the golden age characters, he is my favourite "don't you know". :)

I love all the Dorothy Sayers love here. I am tempted to reread. It's been awhile.

Coleen, has that daughter of yours got a current reading thread this year, it seems to have fallen off my radar if she has?

>15 Caroline_McElwee: I don't, Caroline! I am so bad at keeping it up, I decided not to start this year. (Part of me regrets it, but it's too late now.)

It's not too late, Chris! But if you don't want to, we won't force you. Really.

I've tried suggesting/hinting, but it hasn't worked. :)

>16 cabegley: well I can't nag you Chris as I decided not to do one myself this year!

25. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers

In The Nine Tailors, Lord Peter and his man Bunter are stranded in a snow storm on New Year's Eve in a small village, Fenchurch St. Paul. The church in the village has the largest bells around, and the rector of the parish, Mr. Venables is quite proud of his bell ringers. Sayers uses the bell ringing as a means of moving the story forward, and of course Lord Peter is quite familiar with bell ringing. Peter hears the story of a 20 year old mystery related to a jewel theft, and its impact on the family involved. Several months later a body is found in the village, and the rector appeals to Lord Peter for his detective capabilities. There is no Harriet in this one, but there is plenty of witty dialog between Lord Peter, Bunter and the rector. 4 stars



26. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers

This is my favorite of the Peter Wimsey mysteries. Harriet takes center stage at her alma mater, Shrewsbury College, a fictional college near Oxford and Balliol. The story starts with Harriet reluctantly attending the "Gaudy" dinner to which she has been invited. While at this event, she becomes involved in solving a case of mischief. After the reunion is over, she heads home to find a nasty threatening note which seems to be directed at her relationship with Lord Peter Wimsey. She is eventually asked back to the college to help put a stop to the continuing mischief which has turned more violent. In this story, Harriet learns more about Lord Peter through his nephew and others who know him. She also defines what her independence means to her, and eventually realizes that she can have her independence and also have love. 5 stars



27. Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers

Peter and Harriet are married and head to a cottage they have purchased in the country where they intend to have a quiet honeymoon. The man who sold them the house is not anywhere to be found when they arrive, and they need to find someone who has the keys to let them in. There is some very amusing dialog in this book, and I found myself laughing out loud at several points. Of course the body is found, and the newly married couple work the case together. 4 stars

I have finished my Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey binge. And, I must say that it was most satisfying. The mysteries are fairly complex, with amusing dialog in parts, and a wonderful cast of characters. All of the stories stand on their own, although I would think that you must read the ones which feature the Lord Peter Wimsey & Harriet Vane romance in order. Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, and Busman's Honeymoon.

I had so much fun reading these, that I think I will have to read them all again in another 10 or 15 years. In the meantime, I have all of Sayers' short story collections to read, and I will get to them eventually.

>20 NanaCC: These bring back so many memories! I agree, Gaudy Night is my favourite, too.

>21 reva8:. I don't usually do a binge reading of a series, but I started while I was on vacation in March and was having so much fun, I just kept going. :)

Enjoyed reading about your binge on Lord Peter Wimsey or should I say Dorothy L. Sayers

Great reviews of Sayers! My next one will probably be Gaudy Night that I'm sure I've read before but it must have been a long time ago as I remember little.

28. A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr (NYRB Classics (2000), Edition: Paperback, 135 pages)

Tom Birkin is a WWI survivor, with troubled memories which have left him with a stammer and very bad facial tics. To make matters worse, he came home to find his wife had run off with another man. Seeking some peace and quiet, he accepts a job to uncover a medieval wall mural which has been whitewashed over for hundreds of years in a church in a tiny village called Oxgodby. As he slowly and painstakingly uncovers the beautiful painting before him, he also uncovers a way of dealing with the past. The story unfolds slowly, as Tom meets Moon, another veteran who has his own demons. Moon is an archaeologist and has been hired to find a lost grave that for an unknown reason was buried outside the churchyard.

Tom tells this story of his memory of the time he spent in Oxgodby. The first person narrative works well here, as Tom remembers his excitement at uncovering the beautiful painting, face by face, hand by hand. He tells of the few friendships he made, and of the way that he and Moon stretched out the jobs they were hired for so that they could enjoy the quiet, peaceful, beautiful summer. They were being paid for the job, not by the hour so the ability to slowly heal themselves as their respective jobs slowly revealed the past was beautifully told. At one point Tom and Moon are discussing the effect on themselves of the work they have been doing and Moon says, "I don't suppose you noticed it happening, but Oxgodby's just about ironed you out." (page 97)

The book is worth reading from the beautiful beginning to this touching end.

"We can ask and ask but we can't have again what once seemed ours for ever - the way things looked, that church alone in the fields, a bed on a belfry floor, a remembered voice, the touch of a hand, a loved face, They've gone and you can only wait for the pain to pass.
All this happened so long ago. And I never returned, never wrote, never met anyone who might have given me news of Oxgodby. So, in memory, it stays as I left it, a sealed room furnished by the past, airless, still, ink long dry on a put-down pen.
But this was something I knew nothing of as I closed the gate and set off across the meadow." (page 135)

I loved it. 5 stars

>25 NanaCC: sounds like my kind of book. I can hear that wish list starting to groan as I add another to the pile!

>26 AlisonY: Alison, it is a very tiny book, so your pile shouldn't groan too loudly. :)

>25 NanaCC: Great review! I'm so happy as I have that book on my tbr shelf.

A Month in the Country A feel good book?

I'll be reading this later this year. Looking forward to it!

>28 VivienneR: I think you'll like it, Vivienne.

>29 baswood: "A feel good book?" More poignant and quiet, Barry, but maybe oddly uplifting.

>30 japaul22: I'll look forward to your thoughts, Jennifer.

>25 NanaCC: I agree ... A lovely, contemplative book.

I'm so glad you liked A Month in the Country. It's such a beautifully written book.

>32 lauralkeet: & >33 cabegley: More love for A Month in the Country.

Thanks for lending it to me, Chris.

Usually, I'm a little worried when someone plans to read a book I love, but in this case I was fairly certain you'd love it, too. A Month in the Country really is a perfect book.

>25 NanaCC:
I added it to my Kindle wish list.

I loved A Month in the Country too. There's a movie (which I got from Netflix several years ago) that's pretty good too, surprisingly.

Oh yes ... The movie ... Starring very young Colin Firth and Kenneth Branagh. Nicely done and easy on the eyes :)

Lovely review and commentary.

Thanks for stopping by Kay, Penny, Rebecca, Laura and Jane.

Kay, it may have been your review that put it on my wishlist. I'm always lucky when Chris has something that I want to read.

Penny, I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.

Rebecca and Laura, A movie with Colin Firth and Kenneth Branagh - how lovely...

Thank you, Jane!

I'm tempted to reread the Sayers books after reading your comments; I loved those books when I read them, and it's been a few years. I think Gaudy Night is my favorite, as well. Great comments on A Month in the Country - it truly is a gem.

Thanks, Beth. The Sayers binge was fun while it lasted.

>25 NanaCC: Coleen, A Month in the Country is one of my favourite books and I re-read it every few years. It has such perfect pitch. And I felt the film did it justice too.

Thank you, Caroline. I'll have to find that film.

Another fan of A Month in the Country here. And I know I must get to those Lord Peter Wimsey books one of these days...

Hi Colleen - I've just caught up with you only now! Enjoying your reviews and the last one sounds like a beautiful read. I'm adding A Month in the Country to the wishlist.

What a great review. I feel badi haven't read A Month in the Country yet.

>45 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, I'd love to see what you think of the Lord Peter Wimsey books. I read somewhere that Sayers called him part Fred Astaire and part Bertie Wooster.

>46 Polaris-: Thanks for stopping, Paul. I hope you get to A Month in the Country.

>47 dchaikin: No need to feel bad, Dan. It is very short. I think that you could do it in a couple of hours.

>48 NanaCC: That's funny, Colleen...I read Whose Body last year, and I thought he was a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Bertie Wooster! I found a troubling taint of anti-Semitism in the book, though, which kept me from enjoying it very much. I did leave it with the feeling that I'd like to try Lord Peter's further adventures, as it seemed from various reviews that his character developed and changed a bit over time. You should be able to speak to that, having read 'em all in a bunch that way.

>49 laytonwoman3rd: The anti-semitism is very unfortunate, and I find it in a lot of books of that time period. It doesn't make it any less uncomfortable.

I would say that he did change with time. If you were to just read the four Peter/Harriet books, you would see the progression there. (Strong Poison, Have His Carcass, Gaudy Night, and Busman's Honeymoon)

Whose Body was the first of her Peter Wimsey stories, and the weakest of the bunch, I think.

29. Troubles by J. G. Farrell, (P:1970; NYRB Classics (2002), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 480 pages)

Major Brendan Archer is headed to Ireland, after surviving The Great War, to find out if he is indeed betrothed to Angela Spencer. He met Angela in Brighton in 1916 and they had kept up a correspondence during his time in the trenches. Her newsy letters were always signed "Your loving fiancee, Angela." But, Brendan doesn't really remember ever having proposed during their brief encounter. He heads to The Majestic hotel, owned by her family, in hopes of disabusing her of this idea. He arrives to find the once grand hotel in a state of disintegration, and Angela strangely avoiding him. His intended brief stay becomes permanent, as he becomes friendly with Angela's father, Edward. The hotel is filled with an strange assortment of permanent elderly guests, Angela's younger sisters, Charity and Faith, brother Ripon, odd servants, and is overrun with cats. As the "Troubles" in Ireland escalate, the hotel crumbles bit by bit around them, and the British Empire crumbles bit by bit outside the walls.

The book is filled with dark humor, and the characters are very well drawn. I loved every bit of it. 5 stars

<51 I loved every bit of it.

And i did too.

The Siege of Krishnapur is said to be "better," but I loved Troubles the best of Farrell's Empire trilogy.

Troubles is my favorite as well (but all three are well worth reading!).

Thank you, Rebecca & Chris! I'm looking forward to the rest.

>51 NanaCC: OMG! "Overrun with cats" ..... That clenches it; gotta find this one!!! LOL!

>34 NanaCC: I'd agree that A month in the country is an beautiful book. I have a memory of it that is suffused in a golden glow. Sad, poignant, but there is no denying the hope that fills it.

Wimsey was one of my first literary crushes. *swoon* I knew someone on LT was reading them, so when we were clearing Mum's shelves, I nabbed them all (we have most of them already, but in assorted covers, she had a nice matching set) and started in the middle. For which I know I'll be thrown out of the union >;-)
Gaudy Night followed by Busman's Honeymoon cherry picking the happier ones.

>56 Helenliz: I would say that if you are going to start somewhere other than the beginning, those would be the two I would pick. :)

>55 avidmom: I'd be curious to hear your thoughts, Avid.

I have Troubles on my TBR and must read it soon. There are so many books I'd like to read right away.

>51 NanaCC: Great review, and I'm adding this to my TBR.

>59 RidgewayGirl: I really think you'd like it, Kay. I understand the feeling of wanting to read things right away. My TBR, wishlist and shelves are loaded with books that sound just so good that I know I want to read them. Time...I need time.

>60 reva8: thank you, Reva. I look forward to your thoughts if you do get to it.

>56 Helenliz:
I have started with the first Lord Peter Whimsey Whose Body? and I am not impressed, very slow going.

>62 pmarshall: That really wouldn't be the one I'd suggest anyone started with. I'm not usually a strict series adherent, and I really don't think that this is a series that has to be read in order. There are some that clearly fit in certain places, but there are quite a few that don't fit tightly in any specific sequence. I'd suggest Murder must Advertise as the best place to start, as it really does stand on its own.

I agree with Helen. Whose Body is the weakest. Murder Must Advertise is fairly complex, and definitely stands on its own.

30. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny, (P:2008; Minotaur Books (2011), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 336 pages)

This book is 4th in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series. Inspector Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie, are celebrating their wedding anniversary at Manoir Bellechasse, a lovely B&B not far from Three Pines. An obnoxious dysfunctional family is also at the hotel for a family reunion. One of their number is murdered, and there are suspects aplenty. Louise Penny crafts a good mystery with great characters - some likable, and many not. This was another good entry to the series. I gave it 4 stars.

Troublessounds wonderful -- goes on my wishlist.

>66 janeajones: A good one for the upcoming retirement, Jane. :)

>63 Helenliz:
>64 NanaCC:
I will follow your guidance and give up on Whose Body, which is not hard to do, and go to Murder Must Advertise. For $0.99 each I purchased, on Kindle, two volumes of Sayer's books and short stories. And after that?

This is a dangerous thread! (They're the best ones). First of all, I've never read any Sayers, but I've had The Nine Tailors for ages, and thanks to you it's now lined up for reading soon. And I've downloaded Kindle samples of A Month in the Country and Troubles (that's how I keep track of my wishlist). And last but certainly not least, thanks for reminding me that it's high time for another dose of the delightful Inspector Gamache.

>69 rachbxl: Excellent choice. That's another that stands well on its own. The plot makes quite a lot of use of the very English art of bellringing. As a bellringer myself, I'm happy to answer any questions, if there are any, on that element of the book. There are a few ringing inaccuracies, but none that would impinge on the plot in any way.

>69 rachbxl:&>70 Helenliz: Sayers seemed to be quite interested in cyphers. She used coded messages in a few of the books. The Nine Tailors was a fairly complex plot, and I enjoyed it.

Rachel, I love inspector Gamache. I listened to the first three. Ralph Cosham was the narrator, and he did a terrific job. It gave me the images in my mind of what the characters sounded like, and of their personalities. All of the books in the series were on Kindle daily deal last week, so I bought all of the remaining. As I read this one on the kindle, I could still hear the characters from the audio books.

>68 pmarshall: Penny, the one thing that Whose Body does is introduce Lord Peter, Bunter, and Charles Parker, and give background on Lord Peter's shell shock. I admit to being a bit of a compleatist when it comes to series, so I do like to read them in order, although I know it isn't always necessary. Of course, that's just me.

Enjoying all the discussion about Dorothy L. Sayers. I've had Troubles by J. G. Farrell on my wishlist for some time. Thanks for the reminder to move it up.

31. Loving Without Tears by M. J. Farrell, (P:1951; Penguin Books - Virago Press (1991), Paperback, 272 pages)

I previously read Keane's The Rising Tide and Full House, so the fact that the central character in Loving Without Tears is a domineering mother was no surprise. In this book the mother, Angel, wants the best for her children, but of course, the children's ideas of what is best differ from hers. The story starts with Angel waiting for the arrival of her son after over two years absence as a pilot during WWII. She has a day planned with all of his favorite foods and activities, but in her mind he is still a little boy. Her eighteen year old daughter is falling in love with a family friend who has been part of the family for years. Angel intends to be sure nothing happens there. To say that nothing goes as planned is an understatement.

The story is filled with melodrama, black humor that is a bit over the top and obvious. It reads almost like a play. Keane's descriptions of her Ireland are lovely, as usual. This would be my least favorite of Keane's books I've read so far. 3 stars

Well, now you've hit me with a bullet....Troubles sounds like a must read for me! (Are we even at the moment?)

>74 laytonwoman3rd: For today, Linda. For today. :)

Inspiring review of Troubles. Sorry Loving Without Tears didn't work.

Nice review of Troubles, Colleen; that was a book I would have given six stars if it was possible. I also loved The Siege of Krishnapur, but Troubles is my favorite of The Empire Trilogy.

Good Behaviour is my favorite Molly Keane novel. I also really liked Full House. I have Loving Without Tears on my shelves but I'm not in any hurry to read it now!

>72 VivienneR: I'm pretty sure you would like troubles, Vivienne.

>76 dchaikin: Thank you, Dan

>77 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl. I'll get to the other books in the trilogy soon. I need to borrow them from Chris.

>78 lauralkeet: I haven't read Good Behavior, Laura, but I do have it on my wishlist. I hate putting people off a book. I just felt that Loving Without Tears was rather manic when compared with The Rising Tide and Full House. I've seen others say that it was a little bit like a Noel Coward play, so I could be off base.

Thought I'd drop in on the Wimsey discussion (albeit a bit late). My favourite is The Nine Tailors, which bears frequent rereading. I first read it at university and passed it on to a friend, who then began reading Pevsner commenting that at the time it was written most of the readers would have been known all the parts of a church, but nowadays few do. We subsequently spent many happy days in East Anglia peering at village churches. There was even loose talk of taking up bell ringing! I like The Nine Tailors (a) because it captures the Fenland so well (b) for the social history and (c) for Wimsey's model curtesy. I've always found Wimsey's assumed character (out of office hours) in Murder Must Advertise unconvincing and somewhat uncomfortable. Perhaps it brings to mind that actor in the very old tv adaptations (woefully miscast as he was altogether too stocky and unaristocratic). I think Wimsey does refer to himself as looking a bit like Bertie Wooster. If it were being redone for tv I suppose either Cumberbatch or the young(ish) Fox would do. I now want to go and reread the entire series again, but I can't because I have just started the Poldarks and I have a huge To Be Read, and you have reminded me that I was supposed to be reading Trollope this year!

>80 Oandthegang: Thank you for stopping O. I had the same reservations about Wimsey's after hours assumed character in Murder Must Advertise, but I still think it is a good one. The Nine Tailors is a lot of fun, and I could see it promoting a lot of visits to old churches. The bell ringing aspect was quite interesting. I've never seen an adaptation of one of the Wimsey stories, but in my mind, the actor would need to be slender and sophisticated.

The Nine Tailors was excellent. I enjoyed the details about churches. I'm planning on Clouds of Witness next, in an attempt to read the series in order but I wonder if that is necessary? I'd really like to jump to a later one next. Can you advise?

Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter will always be Lord Peter and Harriet Vane in my mind. If you want to watch a series this is the one to search for.

>82 VivienneR: other than the four Peter/Harriet books (which I really think should be read in order), the others can stand alone. The Five Red Herrings seems to annoy a lot of people due to the Scotch accents, train time tables, and no Bunter, so I might advise skipping that one, although I really enjoyed the reenactment of the crime. It was pretty amusing.

32. Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear

This is the tenth book in the Maisie Dobbs series. Maisie is asked to help investigate the murder of a woman from India. Taking place in 1933, the story touches on racial discrimination, and the fears of what is happening in Germany. It seems that as Maisie has become financially independent, she has become more unsure of herself.

I gave this one 3 1/2 stars.

>82 VivienneR: Ah, Edward Petherbridge! I didn't see those, but I imagine he would be excellent. The actor I was thinking of was Ian Carmichael, who really didn't suit.

P.S. Have just seen Wimsey's entry on Wikipedia. Rather fun.

>85 Oandthegang: thank you for the tip on the Wikipedia entry. That was rather fun.

>82 VivienneR: I agree about the Petherbridge/Walter combo, I really enjoyed them, and it is EP I see as Wimsey.

>87 Caroline_McElwee: As I read Sayers, I see Edward Petherbridge in my mind.

33. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, (Little, Brown and Company (2013), Kindle Edition, 494 pages)

My reaction when I read this book in 2013 was - "I think that it is beautiful and unique. We have all had those moments where we've said, "what if I had done it differently". Atkinson did that here.

I rarely say I will read a book again. There are just too many books that I haven't read. This is one of those rare exceptions. Life After Life was so good. I couldn't put it down, and when I finished, I didn't want it to end."

I must say that I loved it just as much the second time around. However, instead of rushing to read to the end to see how it ended, I was able to savor it. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. If you've already read it, it stands up to its second reading.

Good to read that you enjoyed this just as much second time around. I still have to get to it, but I hope I will eventually.

>90 Polaris-: I'd love to hear your thoughts if you do get to it, Paul. It was a favorite in 2013, and I am pretty sure it will be on my favorites list again this year.

I kept my copy of Life After Life, too.

>92 RidgewayGirl: I'm glad I read it again before starting A God in Ruins, Kay. I think my memory of a few things might have been a bit fuzzy after two years. I think having a fresher association is working well for me.

ETA: Kay, your touchstone is going to a different book. There seem to be three books with the Life After Life title. I was surprised to see the one by Raymond Moody, as that was my father's name.

>89 NanaCC: sounds like a great book - praise indeed! I have Behind the Scenes at the Museum on my wish list: she's an author I haven't read yet, so looking forward to trying some of her work.

>94 AlisonY: I think that was the first I've read by Atkinson, although I have a few on my TBR. My daughter has them, so I just need to ask her. I'm reading A God in Ruins now, and enjoying it.

I read Life After Life last year and loved it - in fact had so much to think and say about it that I haven't organised a review yet. Have today succumbed to A God In Ruins which I hope will be as good, though Life is a hard act to follow.

>96 Oandthegang: I am enjoying it so far, O. Not far into it yet, but it centers around my favorite character, after Ursula, in Life After Life - Teddy.

I also loved Life After Life, and I'll definitely buy and read A God in Ruins. I'll consider rereading the first book, as you did.

>98 kidzdoc: I thought that the re-read was worth it, Darryl. But either way, I think you'll like the new one.

Well, thanks to you Colleen, and a surprise Amazon gift card, A God In Ruins landed on my Kindle last night. I have Life After Life in a Kindle edition and suddenly became obsessed with having them both. I had requested it from my library but just couldn't resist.

>100 lauralkeet: I know the feeling, Laura. I have both on my Kindle, because I couldn't resist. Enjoy!

>89 NanaCC: "I must say that I loved it just as much the second time around" - This is high praise indeed and has intrigued me enough to add this to the ever-growing TBR.

>102 reva8: Reva, I do hope that you get to it. I would love to see your thoughts.

Glad to hear you're enjoying A God in Ruins, Colleen. I plan to start it this weekend. I do own a copy of Life After Life but won't reread it just yet.

>104 BLBera: Beth, I was glad that I reread Life After Life, but it definitely wasn't necessary. It did help me with some of the references to secondary characters or events.

34. A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson, (Little, Brown and Company (2015), Kindle Edition, 470 pages)

The author calls A God in Ruins a companion novel to Life After Life. At the center of the novel is Ursula's little brother, Teddy. Unlike Ursula in Life After Life, Teddy does not keep reliving his life. The story is told through Teddy's memories, and the memories of others as it moves back and forth from Teddy's early childhood, through his harrowing time as an RAF pilot in WWII, and up until 2012. Sometimes the time changes can take place in the space of a paragraph, but I never found it confusing. Memories can be told from the point of view of different people, and as in real life, memories can differ, and can flit from one thing to another, sometimes seemingly without a reason.... Some of the previous characters are present - Sylvie & Hugh, Izzie, Nancy and her sisters, Ursula; and new characters - Teddy's daughter, Viola, and her children Sunny and Bertie (yes, he's a grandfather); and of course, the dogs. Teddy was a favorite character in Life. You pretty much had to love Teddy, so having him as the center of this book is a treat. The scenes during the bombing raids are some of the best ones, just as the scenes during the Blitz stood out in Life. And, that is pretty much everything that I want to tell you, so that I don't spoil anything.

The title is taken from Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Nature", "A man is a god in ruins. When men are innocent, life shall be longer, and shall pass into the immortal, as gently as we awake from dreams."

If you haven't read Life after Life, I highly recommend that you do. And then jump right into this one. It was very good. I gave it 4.5 stars.

I'm on the list at my library for this (#6), so hopefully I'll get it shortly!

>107 japaul22: I'll be curious to see your thoughts when you do get to it, Jennifer. I hope you like it.

Both of our posts are numbered 106. I'm curious to see if yours changes to 107. And it did.

Great to hear that the follow up to Life After Life delivered. Looking forward to getting to this author at some stage.

35. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell, (Harcourt (2007), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 245 pages)

Iris Lockhart receives a strange call from Cauldstone Hospital to say that her great aunt, Esme, is being released after 60+ years of having been kept locked up there. Iris doesn't have a great aunt; after all, her grandmother, Kathleen, has always claimed to be an only child. Her grandmother has Alzheimer's disease, so she is not going to be much help in answering any questions. The story is told from three points of view - Esme, the great aunt, who has been locked up since she was sixteen years old. Why - because she was a bit eccentric, didn't want to get married, she was willful, and wanted to go on to university. This was back in a time, where a woman could be locked up for having unusual thoughts, or wanted to go against her parent's wishes; Iris, who is dealing with her own affair with a married man; and Kathleen (Kitty), Esme's older sister with the secrets locked inside her fleeting memories. The story was a quick read, and quite sad.

This was my first book by Maggie O'Farrell. I gave it 3.5 stars.

>109 AlisonY: these are the only two books that I've read by Atkinson, and I do have a wish list of her others. I highly recommend these, but I'm guessing her others would be good, as well.

Fun review of A God in Ruins. It makes me want to read Life After Life just to get to this one.

>109 AlisonY: & >111 NanaCC: Chiming in to echo Colleen's recommendation of Kate Atkinson, one of my favourite authors. I loved the Jackson Brodie series. Then I saw the excellent tv series where Brodie was played by Jason Isaacs, perfect casting.

>89 NanaCC: well to re-read a novel so soon is a good recommendation Coleen. I bought Life after Life only recently, so maybe I will pick it up next month.

>112 dchaikin: I hope you do read Life After Life, Dan. I would be curious to see your thoughts.

>113 VivienneR:. I haven't read the Jackson Brodie series, but have it on my wishlist. That might be one to get to this summer.

>114 Caroline_McElwee: I don't usually do a re-read, but I'm really glad that I did on this one. As I said before, not necessary, but for me it added to my enjoyment of A God in Ruins

Colleen - I just finished A God in Ruins and loved it. What a wonderful novel. Whatever I read next is going to suffer in comparison. What wonderful characters. And I loved the way she structured the narrative.

>116 BLBera: Agreed, Beth. I'm trying to finish up a knitting project, so I've been listening to Lamentation, the latest in the Matthew Shardlake series. As much as I love Sansome's books, I can't quite help comparing.... Sigh...

36. Lamentation by C. J. Sansom, Narrated by Steven Crossley, (©2015 C.J. Sansom (P)2015 Hachette Audio)

This is the sixth installment in the Matthew Shardlake series. Set in 1546, the final months of King Henry VIII's life, the book is filled with the political and religious turmoil that was present at the time. Queen Catherine Parr has written a book, Lamentation of the Sinner, which could be considered heretical by some. She has many enemies, who would like to see the King put her aside. The book has been stolen from a locked chest, and the Queen and her uncle, Lord Parr, have asked Matthew's help in finding it. This puts him and his associates in great danger.

I love these books that are filled with historical detail, and Steven Crossley's narration is excellent. I've given this one 4 stars.

>118 NanaCC: Lamentation sounds good and the series sounds like good fun.

I have read the first one in the series and so only another five to go.

Sounds intriguing. I really enjoyed the first Shardlake, Dissolution, so I'll keep an eye out for the others -- do you think he'll go on to the reigns of Edward and Mary and Elizabeth??

>119 Polaris-:&>120 baswood: Tudor England- intrigue galore. Fun to read about, wouldn't want to live there. :). The historical detail in these books is really terrific, giving the reader a real feel for the time period.

>121 janeajones: I'm pretty sure that his intention is to continue, based upon the setup at the end of this one, and things I've seen on the Internet.

Glad to see you enjoyed Lamentation, Colleen. What a great series. I hope he continues beyond Henry VIII as well.

I've just added the first in the Shardlake series to my wishlist!

>123 lauralkeet: Thank you for introducing me to this series, Laura. I have enjoyed all of the books- some perhaps more than others, but they have all been enjoyable.

>124 Polaris-: I hope you enjoy it, Paul. I've listened to all of them, and the narrator is very good.

Hi Colleen - All of the fans of the Shardlake series are making me reevaluate. I read Dissolution and thought it was just OK so have not continued. Maybe I should revisit the series.

>126 BLBera: We all can't like the same books all of the time, Beth. I wouldn't hold it against you. :). I found that I liked some in the series more than others, but I am pretty sure that I loved the series from the beginning.

Lovely to catch up on your thread, and I'm enjoying your reviews particularly of Kate Atkinson!

37. Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope, (Pub: 1858, Kindle Edition, The Works of Anthony Trollope, 656 pages)

This is the third book in The Chronicles of Barsetshire. Church politics takes a back seat in this book, and the story of Doctor Thorne and his niece Mary is at the center. Trollope's take on the expected behavior of the classes and social mores of the time are so well done. He also takes on the effects of over indulging in alcohol. His books are full of wonderful characters, and his great wit shows through the entire story here. Doctor Thorne's niece was born out of wedlock and under unfortunate circumstances. He vows to raise her, and in so doing puts her in close proximity with a family of rank. She grows up practically as part of this family, that is, until the squire's son, Frank, falls in love with her. Forbidden love, and besides, Frank must marry money to save the family from ruin. Will they or won't they? You know from the beginning that everything will turn out ok. Trollope delightfully spills the beans as the story progresses. I love the names that he uses. Dr. Fillgrave (he's not a match for Doctor Thorne), Mr Readypalm, who stays just this side of the line between legal and illegal while campaigning for local elections. There are so many more that just made me smile. This is my favorite of the series so far. I gave it 4 1/2 stars.

>128 reva8: Thank you, Reva. Atkinson gets a lot of love around here.

>129 NanaCC: Doctor Thorne was my favorite of the Barsetshire series. I was hoping you'd like it!

>131 japaul22: I do love books from this time period, Jennifer. You had told me that this was your favorite, so I had high expectations. :) I wasn't disappointed. Trollope is wonderful. I will probably read Framley Parsonage sometime this summer.

38. Let It Bleed by Ian Rankin, (Minotaur Books (2009), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 368 pages)

This is the 7th of the Inspector Rebus Novels, and it didn't disappoint me. Full of the gritty descriptions of Edinburgh, persistent obsessive detective work, and binge drinking that we expect from Inspector Rebus, this story finds the inspector involved in a mess that may get him into tons of trouble. Two suicides and a murder with links that seem like much more than coincidence take Rebus through a messy Edinburgh winter and into dangerous territory. The ramifications could be disastrous, and it had an ending that pushed me to start the next book right away.

I gave this one 4 stars.

39. A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley, Narrated by Jayne Entwistle

This is the third book in the Flavia de Luce series. I find these stories to be charming and entertaining. So many things remind me of my childhood in the 1950's, of being able to hop on my bike to investigate the world around me. Flavia is 11, interested in chemistry, and sees herself as an amateur sleuth. She also gets herself into dangerous situations, but that is all part of the fun. I am enjoying her antics, and her relationship with Inspector Hewitt. In this story, she befriends a gypsy woman who is later beaten. While trying to "help" the police solve this, she stumbles upon a murder victim. Unbelievable? Yes! But the fun is in the telling from Flavia's point of view. The narrator is perfect for these audio books.

I gave it 4 stars.

>129 NanaCC: You know from the beginning that everything will turn out ok. Trollope delightfully spills the beans as the story progresses.
Isn't that the truth? And yet it only enhanced my enjoyment of this book and the others in the series. Great review; I'm off to apply my thumb.

ETA: oh, it's not posted on the book page! Consider this a "virtual thumb" :)

>134 NanaCC: Thank you, Laura. Have you started the Palliser series? I need to finish Barsetshire first, but look forward to that one too.

I rarely post my comments on the book page, unless there are so few there that they need a boost. I appreciate the virtual thumb though. :)

Colleen, I have a couple of the Pallisers including the first one but haven't taken the plunge yet. Maybe in the fall.

>137 lauralkeet: I have them all in a 'Complete a Works of Trollope' on my Kindle. I have no excuse.

I enjoyed Doctor Thorne as well. I think I would rank it second behind Barchester Towers in that series. But don't expect a predictable happy ending to every Trollope romance. Some of his characters have a mind of their own and refuse to cooperate.

>139 StevenTX: "But don't expect a predictable happy ending to every Trollope romance."

I am happy not to have a cookie cutter ending, Steven. The journey to get to the end, whatever that might be, is what makes a good reading experience for me. So far, my journey through these books has been terrific.

When I finish the Palliser series, I'll start the Barsetshire . . . but who knows when that will be?

>141 rebeccanyc: I have a long way to go, Rebecca. But the fun is in getting there.

>136 NanaCC: Please post your excellent reviews on the book page no matter how many reviews are already there. I have learned to pay more attention to reviews from people I know to have the same taste in reading.

I have audio versions of Trollope that I hope to start soon. I wonder if you've ever tried any?

>143 VivienneR: I haven't listened to any Trollope. That might be an interesting experiment for me. Several years ago, I listened to Great Expectations, and I think the audio version added a lot to my enjoyment.

>144 NanaCC: I have some lovely audio versions of Trollope - Barchester and Pallisers - read by Timothy West. I think Trollope goes very well as audio as he has such a conversational style of writing and Timothy West sounds as though he is talking to you rather than reading.

>145 CDVicarage: hi, Kerry, it is so nice to see you here. Thanks to you and Vivienne, I just downloaded Framley Parsonage, read by Timithy West, to my iPod.

The biggest problem I have with books like this on audio, is that they are so good and I want to keep going, but can't always do that with an audio book. I may just have to walk more. (Which I should be doing anyway). :)

40. Black and Blue by Ian Rankin, (P: 1997; Edition: Minotaur Books (2009), Paperback, 480 pages)

I think that book number 8 in the Inspector Rebus series is the best so far. Rebus was in big trouble at the end of the previous book, and his actions have him working under a new supervisor with constant monitoring. This is something that Rebus doesn't like. He has his own ways of doing things, and a monitor puts a damper on his tactics. The story centers on a serial killer, nicknamed Johnny Bible, who is murdering and raping women in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. He seems to be imitating a serial killer from the 1960's, Bible John, who has never been found. Rebus is very interested in this case, but has been instructed to investigate the murder of an oil worker. This is all happening, while Rebus is being investigated for possible involvement in a case from his early years where evidence may have been planted. Oh, and he is trying to give up drinking.

This book won the Gold Dagger Award, by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel of the year in 1997. The author states that the idea for the book came from a real case.

I gave it 4 stars.

41. A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre, Narrated by John Lee, Afterword by John Le Carre (©2014 Ben Macintyre (P)2014 Random House Audio)

I read Ben Macintyre's Agent Zigzag last year, and found it fascinating. He has done it again with this book about renowned spy Kim Philby. The very British, Cambridge educated Philby duped all of his friends and wives, leading a double life as an agent for MI6, while actually working for the Soviets from the 1930's through much of the Cold War. His duplicity led to the deaths of many of the people he was supposed to be handling or protecting. His two closest friends, during this time, were Nicholas Elliott, a rising star in MI6, and James Angleton, who was rising in the ranks of the CIA. They had no idea what Philby was doing, and because of their relationships, would tell him secrets during their many evenings drinking together. Those secrets were passed to the Soviets, and Philby kept rising higher in MI6. When his betrayal was finally revealed, both Elliott and Angleton realized how much they had divulged to him.

The book reads a little bit like a spy novel, and points out how much of the intelligence agency was built through the "old boy" network. Ian Fleming and Graham Greene had met Philby while they worked for the government during the war. Le Carre's novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was based upon the Philby story. His afterword to this book was very interesting. The records related to Philby and his eventual discovery as the mole, have never been released by the British government, but Macintyre pulled together details from many sources that were close to the case. John Lee's narration was very good. 4 stars

I think I need to put Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy on the TBR.

>148 NanaCC: I got this book a while ago but haven't got round to reading it. If it's anywhere near as good as Agent Zigzag then I'm really looking forward to it!

>149 valkyrdeath: This is also quite good. I find it fascinating that he got away with his hidden persona for over twenty years. Even after he first came under suspicion, Elliott and Angleton insisted that his accusers had to be wrong. Worth reading.

I remember reading about the Kim Philby book in the NYT when it was first published. It looks fascinating. Also definitely one my husband would love so I should keep it in mind for Christmas.

>151 lauralkeet:. Both of the Ben Macintyre books that I've read are fascinating, Laura. Agent Zigzag and A Spy Among Friends. I think they'd make great presents.

>148 NanaCC: is that based on, or accompanies the TV series of the same subject? I caught an episode or two of that, then missed it.

> 148 I was a big fan of Agent Zigzag (which I think I read because of your daughter!), and have been eagerly waiting for A Spy Among Friends to come out in paperback. (I also enjoyed Macintyre"s Operation Mincemeat, although not as much as Agent Zigzag.)

I recommend Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and le Carre's cold war novels in general; I particularly liked A Perfect Spy, which is more about fathers and sons than about spying.

>153 Helenliz: Do you mean Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy? There was a film, starring Gary Oldman, and a TV mini series. Wikipedia says that the TV series was in 1979.

>154 rebeccanyc: I haven't read Operation Mincemeat, Rebecca, but I have it on my Kindle. I would say that Agent Zigzag was the better of the two I've read. Both are very good.

ETA: I will look for Le Carre's other works too.

>155 NanaCC: no, I mean a recent show on the BBC - Kim Philby, his intimate betrayal. Presented by Ben Macintyre, hence my question as to if it was related. I tend to (in a most provincial manner) assume everyone lives down the road from me (even when I know full well they don't) - so apologies if you don't get the BBC!

I do get BBC America, but haven't seen that show yet. I don't always catch shows until it is too late to watch the shows from the beginning. But it sounds like it must be related. I'll have to search for it. The book was published in 2014, I think.

42. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, (Riverhead Books (2015), Edition: Kindle, Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 326 pages)

This book is a good weekend or beach read. It is a fast paced psychological thriller, told from the point of view of three different women. Rachel is the girl on the train. She's a very unhappy, divorced, drunk, and often has blackouts. Anna is the new wife of Rachel's ex-husband. Megan is the girl Rachel sees every day on her train journey to a job from which she has been fired. All are unlikeable, at times sympathetic, and completely unreliable narrators of their story. The chapters switch back and forth from one woman to the next, one date to the next. Every person in the book has secrets. Can their stories be trusted?

The book has been compared to Gone Girl, and maybe the different voices make it a likely comparison, but I think that's where the similarities end. A more likely comparison that I've seen is to Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. If you like a fast paced story, you will probably like this book. Great literature it isn't, but fun it is. I gave it 3 1/2 stars.

>158 NanaCC: Making note of that one, for next time i want to just have fun with a book.

My husband read Operation Mincemeat, and enjoyed it. I keep meaning to get him more of MacIntyre's books.

>159 laytonwoman3rd:. I have Operation Mincemeat on my Kindle. I'll get to that one eventually. I have another called Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies. Mr. Macintyre seems to be quite the expert on these spies.

I had a similar reaction to The Girl on the Train: thought it was a fun and fast-paced read.

Enjoying your Trollope reviews -- I've not read any since grad school -- maybe it's time to get back to them.

I always post my reviews on the book page -- not particularly for others, but so I can easily go back and remember what I thought about particular books -- maybe it's an age and memory thing for me.

>161 lauralkeet: I saw your review, Laura. It was a fun way to pass the time this past weekend.

>162 janeajones: I am really enjoying Trollope. Last year was my first foray into his world. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed his writing.

I think I'm slowly getting convinced that I need to read Girl on the Train. I fancy a few books that don't require much thinking about on holiday, so perhaps this will be one I take with me.

>164 AlisonY: I was hesitant because of mixed reviews, but a few people whose reading tastes are similar to mine gave it a good reaction. Basically, a good beach read - quick and fun.

I'm back from two weeks vacation at Cape Cod with my family, and have a lot of catching up to do. I managed to read two books the first week, and then a puzzle took over my life. (I love puzzles.)



43. Pomfret Towers by Angela Thirkell, (1938; Virago UK (2015), Paperback, 304 pages)

A weekend party at a country house, Pomfret Towers, Barsetshire seat of the earls of Pomfret, is the setting for this story in Thirkell's Barsetshire series. It is a light, humorous read, perfect for vacation. I gave it four stars.



44. The Yard by Alex Grecian, (Berkley Trade (2013), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 432 pages)

This historical fiction takes place in 1889. The police have been embarrassed by their failure to catch Jack the Ripper. Another serial killer has appeared, and seems to be killing members of the police squad. The story was pretty good, and it was a bit of a page turner, but the modern dialog was a little jarring. If you are interested in a quick, fun read, you might enjoy this one. If you are a stickler for historical accuracy, I don't think you will enjoy it as much. I gave it 3.5 stars.

I'm reading an Angela Thirkell right now, Colleen. I agree they are perfect light summer vacation fare. I enjoyed Pomfret Towers, I think it might have been the first one I read.

>167 lauralkeet: I really enjoy, Angela Thirkell, Laura, although I'm not sure that I could read them back to back the way I did with the Peter Wimsey series.

I think I'm in a light summer reading mood right now. I have a few things waiting, and not sure what I'm in the mood for. Maybe just getting back from vacation is effecting my mood. I am listening to Framley Parsonage and really enjoying it, so maybe I should take that as my clue.

45. The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri, (1994; Penguin Books (2005), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 224 pages)

This is the first book in the Inspector Montalbano crime series by Italian author Andrea Camilleri. The inspector is likable, and enjoys good food and wine. The story starts with the death of a prominent figure found in a car sitting in the middle of an outdoor brothel called the Pasture. There were several twists to the story involving corruption. I will continue with this series which came highly recommended by Rebecca. I gave it 3.5 stars.

>169 NanaCC: I'm glad you liked it and you can now ignore my comment on the What Are You Reading? thread. I'm completely addicted.

>170 rebeccanyc: I'm always up for a good series, Rebecca. :)

46. Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope, Narrated by Timothy West, (P:1861; Audible Studios (2008), Audio Download)

The fourth book in The Chronicles of Barsetshire is really quite wonderful. A young clergyman, Mark Robarts, gets himself into financial trouble when he co-signs loans for an aristocrat, Nathaniel Sowerby, with whom he has just become acquainted. Mark is tempted by the society which he is introduced to, but of which he has no understanding. He has a most forgiving wife named Fanny. His patron is Lady Lufton and her son Ludovic, Lord Lufton, who has, to his mother's dismay, fallen in love with Mark's sister, Lucy. There are at least four love stories here, some of which include characters that we have met in previous books in the series. Politics is at a minimum, and character descriptions are clever and witty. Miss Dunstable is back - she is a great character, along with Doctor Thorne, the Granthems, Grantleys, Arabins, and Proudies. Trollope's descriptions of the society of the time are clever. I love the way he handles his female characters.

I gave this one 4.5 stars.

47. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra, (Hogarth (2013), Kindle Edition, 418 pages)

From the book's description: "In a small rural village in Chechnya, eight-year-old Havaa watches from the woods as Russian soldiers abduct her father in the middle of the night and then set fire to her home. When their lifelong neighbor Akhmed finds Havaa hiding in the forest with a strange blue suitcase, he makes a decision that will forever change their lives. He will seek refuge at the abandoned hospital where the sole remaining doctor, Sonja Rabina, treats the wounded."

That strange blue suitcase is the one Havaa's father told her to keep packed "just in case". It holds her personal items and souvenirs, items that refugees who had stayed overnight on their way to camps would give her as tokens to remember them. Sonja is a brilliant surgeon, longing to find her missing sister, Natasha. Akhmed is a much better artist than doctor, but Sonja brings him in to help her. Akhmed's neighbor is an informant, who has turned in many of the inhabitants of the little village, including Havaa's father and Havaa. The main part of the story takes place over five days, during which we find the stories of these people are intertwined, but it also moves back and forth between 1994 and 2004, where we get a picture of why some of the characters act as they do. The history of ethnic problems in Chechnya is one with which I was familiar, but not to the extent that I should have been. The author describes the destroyed buildings, the shelled craters in the road, the constant lookout for land mines, the results of those land mines as people arrive at the hospital needing amputations. I think that through all of the horror and sadness, there is also a story of goodness here - that there are still good people with good intentions.

Highly recommended. I gave it 4.5 stars.

>172 NanaCC: I think this may have been my favorite of the Barchester series, although the last one is fabulous too. I love Miss Dunstable!

>173 NanaCC: this was a great book, too. I didn't know as much as I probably should about the situation in Chechnya, either. The stories of each character were pretty powerful.

>174 lauralkeet: I'm glad to hear that you loved the last book in the Barsetshire series, Laura, as they are so long, and that one is a monster at over 900 pages. I was going to head right to the next book, but think I will save the last two for reading this fall.

I'm still trying to decide whether to change my rating from 4.5 to 5 stars for A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. I'm not sure what kept me from that last half star, which probably means it deserves a 5.

>175 NanaCC: I'm still trying to decide whether to change my rating
*whispers* I gave it 5 stars. :)

>173 NanaCC: 4.5 or 5 stars, it sounds like a great book either way. I wishlisted it.

>176 lauralkeet: "*whispers* I gave it 5 stars."
Like minds, and all that.... :)

>177 FlorenceArt: I hope you get to it, Florence. I'll be looking for your thoughts.

I have both The Chronicles of Barsetshire and A Constellation of Vital Phenomena on Mount TBR. Your reviews make me want to push them up higher.

>179 VivienneR:. I have really been enjoying The Chronicles of Barsetshire . The first book, The Warden, was the hardest to read because of the church politics, which I would not have appreciated had it not been for the tutored thread. The characters in all of the books are fantastic. Some reappear in subsequent books. Definitely worth reading.

My daughter, Chris, suggested A Constellation, saying that she loved it. That is usually all the recommendation I need.

Wonderful review of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.

>173 NanaCC: Lovely review. It sounds like one of those stories that could be rather dark and depressing, but turns out to be totally the opposite.

>181 janeajones:. Thank you, Jane.

>182 avidmom:. I think that war is hell no matter how you look at it, but there is a tiny bit of light in there. The ending is not the ending I thought it would be.

Nice review of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena -- I was another who loved it. Although I don't think I gave it five stars. :)

>184 BLBera: thanks, Beth. I am never sure about stars, because for me it is more about my feelings and impressions, rather than how well it was written. I think that is probably not the right way to do it. However, as Florence said, 4.5 or 5 it is still a good book.

Well, Colleen, I think any way you do it is fine. It is your experience... I know sometimes I do go back and adjust after a time.

48. The End of the Wasp Season: A Novel by Denise Mina, Narrated by Jane McFarlan

This is the second book on Mina's DS Alex Morrow series. I am enjoying this series. The writing is good, and the story is also well done. We know from the beginning who did the murder, but as it unfolds, we learn more about the characters (good and bad), and their reasons for doing what they do. Two well-to-do lads in a posh school kill a young woman in Glasgow. Alex Morrow, pregnant with twins, needs to lead her team to solve the crime. Dysfunctional families.. dysfunctional police force.. they make a good story.

I think I'll give this one 4 stars.

Enjoyed catching up on your reviews. A few more added to the wish list pile.

Nice to see you here Alison. I'm always happy to add to the piles of others, as you do to mine. :)

Another one I have on the tbr shelf. I'm following Mina's series too. Glad to see it gets your approval.

I'm glad you're enjoying the Alex Morrow series. I'm finding that the books get stronger as the series progresses and I especially enjoy that Morrow develops as a character. I've met Mina at a book signing and she was wonderful; warm and interesting and willing to discuss her books. I mentioned that I really liked that she had a character from a previous book show up in the Morrow series and she told me all about the basis for that character and even mentioned that she plans to have that character appear again in a larger role. She is one of the very few authors that I will automatically buy in hardcover.

I'm a Mina fan too and I enjoyed the Alex Morrow series. I have one more Mina on the TBR, Deception (also known as Sanctum), which doesn't seem to be part of a series.

>190 VivienneR:. I've been listening to the series and it has been lovely to listen to. I just ordered the next book in print though, because I read too many reviews that said the narrator for that book was awful.

>191 RidgewayGirl:. I am just new to Mina's writing, but I like her style. The stories here were pretty good, and if they keep getting better, what more could I want.

>192 rebeccanyc:. We posted at the same time, Rebecca. You were the one who got me started on Mina.

>192 rebeccanyc: & >191 RidgewayGirl: It looks like she has three series, is that right? Have you read them all?

>194 NanaCC: Yes, she had the Garnethill trilogy, which is very dark, the Paddy Meehan series, which is set in Glasgow in the early 1980s and follows a young journalist, and the Alex Morrow series. She has also written a stand-alone novel and several graphic novels.

>194 NanaCC: Yes, I've read all three series (Paddy Meehan and Maureen O'Donnell are the other ones). I agree with Kay that in all three series the books get better as the series goes on.

>195 RidgewayGirl:&>196 rebeccanyc: Of the three series, do you have a favorite?

My favorite is the Garnethill trilogy, probably because it was the first that I read. But I liked the Paddy Meehan books because of the main character and the time they're set it. And the Alex Morrow series is good - I like the way Morrow changes as a person through the series.

They are all so different, which I like. I too read the Garnethill trilogy first, and I persisted even though I didn't like Garnethill itself that much. All in all, I like the Maureen O'Donnell and Alex Morrow books better than the Paddy Meehan.

49. The Brutal Telling: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny, (P:2009; Minotaur Books (2010), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 386 pages)

This is the fifth book in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. A body is found in the bistro which is owned by Olivier and his partner Gabri. Gamache and his team, Inspector Jean Guy Beauvoir, and agent Isabelle Lacoste of the Sûreté du Québec’s homicide division, need to find out who the man is, who killed him, and why. In the meantime, Clara is meeting with a gallery owner who is going to display her unique artwork. The old Hadley house has been purchased and renovated and will become a spa. The story takes Gamache to the Queen Charlotte Islands, home of ancient totem poles of hundreds of years ago, to help him solve the crime in the little village of Three Pines.

I am a fan of this series, as are many here on LT, and have given it 4 stars. I must note, however, that Vivienne, whose reading tastes are very similar to mine, happens to hate the series. I know we all can't like the same things, so not sure why we differ on this one. I love the characters, and I know that she doesn't. I keep wondering if the fact that I listened to the first couple of books in the series has contributed to my feelings. The reader was perfect, and I can still hear his voice when I read the print versions.

Colleen, I am going to be looking for a new mystery series soon, as I only have two books to go in the Amsterdam cops series (I am rationing them). I guess with your endorsement of this series I should try the first one . . .

>201 rebeccanyc: I know that you like dark, or at least I think you do. Have you read any of Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer Mysteries? The first one translated into English was Don't Look Back.

>202 NanaCC: Thanks for the recommendation of Karin Fossum. I checked out the reviews for the first Inspector Gamache and one of them said "heartwarming," which turned me off. Inspector Sejer sounds more to my taste.

>203 rebeccanyc: I agree, Rebecca. I have read the first 7 in the series, and now I see that there are a couple of others that have been translated. I will have to look for those.

>204 NanaCC: I've ordered Don't Look Back, so I'll see what I think when I read it.

>205 rebeccanyc: I'll be curious to see your thoughts.

>200 NanaCC:, >203 rebeccanyc: I'm another who wasn't taken with the Three Pines series. I think I read the first two. It wasn't the "heartwarming" aspect that left me cold; I just didn't care for Gamache, as I recall.

>207 laytonwoman3rd:. I guess we all have our own ideas on these, and that's ok. I think I loved the narration, and perhaps that has colored my enjoyment of them.

50. The Complaints by Ian Rankin, (P:2009; Reagan Arthur / Back Bay Books (2011), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 480 pages)

I love the Inspector Rebus series. I've read the first 8 so far, and wondered what Rankin's other books were like. I thought this was a stand-alone, but it is the first book in a series that Rankin started after he retired Rebus. The writing and the story are solid.

Malcolm Fox is the new Rebus, although he is the complete opposite of Rebus. He is a member of "The Complaints", a division of the police force that investigates other cops. We call them Internal Affairs here in the states. Fox is totally above board, doesn't drink, visits his dad in the nursing home, and his sister who is in an abusive relationship. His team is pretty much hated by the rest of the police force. At the beginning, Fox is asked to investigate a young cop expected of indulging in child pornography. In a turn of events, we find out that the young cop is investigating Fox. The story progresses and becomes one of corruption, the failure of the building boom, murder, and who can be trusted. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'll go back to reading Rebus before I read any more of this series, because I find out through blurbs that Rebus comes out of retirement and maybe teams up with Fox? That would be interesting.

4 stars.

I seem to have been in quite a "summer reading" mood for the most part lately, and I don't really see that changing until the fall. I've been too busy to sit and really concentrate on anything too deep. I'm planning on finishing the month with My Brilliant Friend, and then I have quite a few books lined up for the Virago group's All Virago/All August.

>209 NanaCC: Didn't the Rebus series start with him coming out of retirement, or am I thinking of something else? *stumbles off to check catalog*

Edit: No, I see I was thinking of Rennie Airth's John Madden series. I've read only one of each, Knots and Crosses and The Blood-Dimmed Tide. Set both aside for getting back to "someday", as you do.

>211 laytonwoman3rd: The Rebus series just keeps getting better, IMO, Linda. He is such a great character. Lois/avalon was the one who introduced him to me, and I'm glad she did. I hope you are enjoying your summer.

Ineed to get back to Rebus, having read only the first one so far. I have a few on hand and this discussion pretty much guarantees I'll read it in August. I've been gravitating towards mysteries and fun reads this summer, so it should be just the ticket.

Nice review of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, Colleen! I'll have to make room to read it later in the year.

>213 lauralkeet: I have quite a few Viragos lined up for August, Laura, but a Rebus might definitely be in order.

>214 kidzdoc: I think you will definitely like A Constellation, Darryl. It was very good. I know that you are trying to squeeze in a lot off the Booker list though, so you already have a bunch of great books waiting for you.

>206 NanaCC: I'm deep into Don't Look Back and I'm enjoying it so much I've just ordered two more in the series. Thank you for introducing me to Fossum and Inspector Sejer.

>215 NanaCC: Right, Colleen. The Booker Prize longlist is my top priority, followed by the Wellcome Book Prize shortlist (that's the literary prize for books about medicine, health or illness), and the quarterly Reading Globally themes. I'll be off from work for most of the next three months, and I have A Constellation of Vital Phenomena on my Kindle, so I may be able to get to it in the fall.

>216 rebeccanyc: I am so glad you are enjoying Don't Look Back, Rebecca. Whenever I recommend something I always worry that I've oversold it.

>217 kidzdoc: Enjoy your time off, Darryl. I know you will squeeze in some wonderful reading time during your travels.

51. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Ann Goldstein (Translator), (P:2011; Europa (2012), Edition: 1st, Kindle Edition, 331 pages)

This is the first book in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels. It is the story of two girls growing up in a colorful but poor suburb of Naples, Italy during the 1950's. Their friendship pushes the story forward through the narrative of one of the girls, Elena. Elena and her friend Lila are both very successful in school, but at a point when a girl might not necessarily continue, Elena was fortunate enough to have a mother who let her continue, while Lila was held back by her parents because she was more useful helping out at home, when they had little money to spend on frivolities. Lila borrowed books though in order not to be left behind by her friend. In fact, where Elena worked hard to get to the head of the class, Lila seemed to learn the same things effortlessly. Elena worships Lila, who dreams big. This first book follows the girls into their teen years. While I can't say that I loved this book, I did enjoy it, and will continue reading the rest of the books in the series. I gave it 3.5 stars.

Edited to add Info about the edition I read.

52. No Fond Return of Love: A Novel by Barbara Pym, (P: 1961; Open Road Media (2013), Kindle Edition, 254 pages)

Dulcie Mainwaring has broken off her engagement and lives alone in a big old house that had belonged to her parents. She attends a conference for people who work in the publishing industry, where she meets Viola and a handsome writer called Aylwin Forbes. Dulcie is one of those people who can't help but insert themselves into the lives of others. If this sounds a bit like a soap opera, it probably is, but Barbara Pym's characterizations and humor are delightful. All's well that ends well. I enjoyed this one quite a bit, and gave it 4 stars.

53. Bryant & May The Burning Man by Christopher Fowler, Narrated by Tim Goodman, (P:2015; ©2015 Christopher Fowler (P)2015 W F Howes Ltd)

I love this quirky series about Arthur Bryant and John May, two aging detectives who head up the Peculiar Crimes Unit in London. (Peculiar in the sense that they seem unsolvable.) In this book, London is full of angry protestors due to a banking scandal. A young homeless man is burned to death in the doorway of one of the banks, and at first it seems like he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The protests become more violent, and it soon becomes clear that this was more than an accident. These books are full of tidbits about London's history, which I always enjoy reading. The way this book ended, it seems as if this is probably the last book. I will miss these two old detectives, and Tim Goodman's narration which is spot on. 4 stars.

Nice group of comments, Colleen. I have the Pym and Ferrante on my wishlist. How many books are in the Fowler series? I think I read one years ago and quite enjoyed it.

Nice to catch up with your reading, Colleen.

>222 BLBera: this one was the 12th in the series, Beth. The audio versions are the way I "read" them, and if you like audio, it is a great way to enjoy them.

>223 rebeccanyc: This has been quite a busy summer, Rebecca. I thought I would get more reading done, but grandchildren have been keeping me busy. Thank you for stopping by.

I've been seeing the Ferrante everywhere but haven't been tempted yet. I'm glad to see you enjoying Barbara Pym, I think she's delightful.

I have the Ferrante on my Kindle -- may get to it on the next road trip. Enjoying your reviews.

>221 NanaCC:
You have more to look forward to. The Burning Man is not the last, Fowler has Strange Tide coming out in 2016, Book 13 in the Bryant & May series. I was looking at the FantasticFiction web site to see what was the first title in the series and discovered this.

>225 lauralkeet: Laura, I hope I didn't put you off the Ferrante. I know that there are people who love this series, and I am along for the ride, so to speak. I've already started another Pym.

>226 janeajones: Thanks, Jane. I hope you enjoy it if you get to it.

>227 pmarshall: That is interesting Penny. The ending of this book really lead me to believe that it was going to be the last.

54. In the Mountains by Elizabeth von Arnim, (P:1920; Amazon Digital Services, Inc., Kindle Editions, 127 Pages)

An unnamed woman retreats to her summer home in the Swiss Alps in the summer of 1918. This is her diary, in which she relates the power of this peaceful place in helping her heal after the sorrows of the war. We never learn exactly what she has been hurt by, but we can guess at her losses. One day, not long after she arrives, two women, seeking relief from the heat in the valley, come up the mountain and stumble upon our diarist. She invites them to stay with her to keep her company, and in the months that they stay, a friendship develops and healing begins. Nothing much happens in this little novel, but von Arnim's writing is so lovely with descriptions of the flowers and the mountains, it pulls you through to the end before you know it. I gave this one 4 stars.

Edited to correct spelling error. I hate typing on my iPad. :(

In the Mountains sounds like a lovely way to spend a few hours. I will add it to my wishlist.

It is a quick one Barry. I found it calming.

>229 NanaCC: I think I need this book!

>232 avidmom: Hi Susie. It is free on kindle.

55. Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym, (P:1950; Open Road Media (2013), Kindle Edition, 272 pages)

This was Barbara Pym's first book, written during the 1930's in the period between the wars, although it wasn't published until 1950. It is a pretty good effort for a first book, and has many of the classic characteristics of a Barbara Pym book - spinsters with broken hearts, clergy, tea parties, and lots of biting humor. Harriet and Belinda are sisters who are independent and own their own home. Belinda pines for the archdeacon who was a classmate in college, but who also happens to be married. Harriet has had several offers of marriage, but prefers staying unattached and amuses herself by inviting the various curates for tea. The story is more character driven than plot driven, and boils down to a rather humorous tale. I gave it 3.5 stars.

Enjoyed catching up with your last handful of books. Your comments make me want to read Pym, adn Ferrante. Maybe von Arnim too.

I write this, poorly, typing on my iPad. I understand your pain in >229 NanaCC:. There has to be a better way.

>235 dchaikin: Barbara Pym might be (is most likely) the complete opposite of Cormac McCarthy. :)

That might be a good thing. Although, actually, I've started All the Pretty Horses and so far it is also the complete opposite of Cormac McCarthy. Now, I've only just started it, so I imagine that will change over the course of the book.

Just catching up after being away from LT for a month. I enjoyed reading your recent reviews and have added Christopher Fowler to my wishlist as well as moving Barbara Pym further up the tbr heap.

Glad to see you back, Vivienne. I've had quite the busy summer myself. If you like audio books, the Bryant and May series are very good in audio.

Catching up after half a year is quite tough. I see you managed to select and read some interesting books, especially In the Mountains by Elizabeth von Arnim. I have never read anything by Barbara Pym, and it seems her books are not available in modern editions. I see you have also picked up centennial Trollope reading. Great!

Hi, Edwin. I hope that your internet problems are behind you. I see that it hasn't kept you from reading. I am always amazed at the number of books you are able to finish.

The von Arnim was my first by her. I have a couple of others, and look forward to reading them. I thought I had read The Enchanted April, but I think I just have the lovely film in my mind. Most of the Pym's I have are on my Kindle. And, I absolutely love Trollope. I plan on finishing The Chronicles of Barsetshire within the next two months. I have the last two in that set.

56. The Merry Misogynist: The Dr. Siri Investigations by Colin Cotterill, Narrated by Clive Chafer, (P: 2011; Blackstone Audio, Inc.)

This is the 6th book in the Dr. Siri Paiboun mystery series. The Laos of 1978 is in a financial mess. Dr. Siri is the 73 year old national coroner, sees dead people, and newly married to Madame Daeng who owns the popular noodle shop. The main mystery involves a serial killer. A beautiful young bride turns up in the morgue, and upon investigation, it turns out that she isn't the first young bride to be found brutally murdered. There are two minor stories in addition to the murder. In telling the stories, Cotterill is able to give us a sense of what life must have been like for these people under early communist rule. There is quite a bit of humor, and the secondary characters are great. I really enjoy this series. 4 stars.

57. August Folly by Angela Thirkell, (P: 1936; Virago UK (2015), Edition: Reissue, 284 pages)

This was another entertaining read in Angela Thirkell's Barsetshire Books. The publisher says, "The village of Worsted is staging Hippolytus under the aegis of the indefatigable Mrs. Palmer. Given this background, it seems inevitable that the most absurd romances should bloom, as indeed they do. Thirkell's novels provide a scrutiny of British manners in the most entertaining doses.

I think these books are perfect for times when you need light reading, and the humor gives just the right note for a few laugh out loud moments. Richard Tebben has just come down from Oxford, after achieving a dismal third. He contemplates spending the summer with his brilliant parents who annoy and embarrass him at every turn. He and his sister Margaret are involved in the local play staged by the wealthy Mrs. Palmer and meet her nieces and nephews in the process. All of a sudden, the summer prospects are looking up. A fun summer read. 3.5 stars.

>242 NanaCC: No 5 in the Dr. Siri series is up next for me, and I hope to get to it in September. It's been too long since I spent some time with that old sweetheart.

>244 laytonwoman3rd: He is a sweetheart, Linda, with his twinkly green eyes, and fantastic wit. :)

Time for a new thread....