Start with the author's notes at the back of Miss Morgan's Book Brigade, by Janet Skeslien Charles, it will give you the perfect background for her book. Well researched and beautifully written, it's also a grim read of the era: World War I, France amid terrible, horrible destruction and how it has affected small towns and the people who lived there. Anne Morgan establishes the American Committee for Devastated France to help these people (mostly women and children) who have lost everything. While they appreciate the food, clothing, medical care (the basics) what they ask for are books! Enter Jessie "Kit" Carson, who is hired to create something never before seen in France ... children's libraries. Leap forward to 1987 and a young writer, working at the NYPL archives comes across a story about these women and decides to write a book. Based on fact (hence the notes at the back) this is a fascinating read of the power of books even, or maybe especially, for those who have so very little. Compelling, maybe a bit overwhelming in parts!

Then, for a lighter read, go for a murder ... a cozy murder! ;-) Ms Mia and Murder at the Spinel Reef Resort is another of the books by Jennifer Branch that take place in a fancy resort (all owned by Ms Mia's family) in a nice location. As Ms Mia is heading from her small cabin in for breakfast she comes across a body, which she reports, only to discover it is missing when they go back to check it out ... what has happened? It's a small island, there is no one, anywhere, alive or dead matching the description. There is a rude and disgruntled young man and his friends there, too, why would they pick basically a resort for old people? Lot's of interesting twists and turns, and a beautiful description of a dive in tropical waters.

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Warning! I read this book in one day: An Unlikely Revelation, book 4 in the Unlikely Murder Club series by Gina X. Grant. To try and get convicted killer/author (who wants to kill Agatha so he can write about her) off her case Agatha fakes her own death. There is a funeral and everything, and then she takes on a new alias (it's not the first time). There is a surprise guest ... someone from her past ... who has recently purchased a failing theater, keeping it from the hands and plans of a greedy developer. The entire town pitches in to help with the renovations, and then Chance, the dog, digs up a skeleton. Clues point towards Martin (but that can't be, can it?). Old crimes and scandals surface this time for another engaging read in this cozy series.

Murder of a Medium is book 15 (!) in the Redmond and Haze Mystery series by Irina Shapiro. The well known psychic Alicia Lysander is killed on her way home from a seance. She seemed in a bit of a rush to leave, did not wait for her usual driver and refused an offer of a ride from the home owner ... why? Redmond and Haze, who worked with her in the past, are determined to find the killer and the reason for the brutal attack. Well written, but remember, these are not cozies!

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Dear Priscilla, by Mark Schweizer, is unlike anything I've read before. While it did have a 'liturgical' theme, like his series, it was also dark, a 'noir comedy thriller' ... ! It was written in the middle of his delightful series so, was it to counter all that humor and fun? Or something else? The cops here were corrupt, on the take, but still tried to put away bad guys, too ... and when one 'bad guy' was contacting them through an advice column, one of the police took over answering the letters to 'Priscilla' ... oh, just read it, give it a chance, I quite enjoyed it! I did finally learn a bit more about the author. He had a PhD in music, and at some point worked for Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Disciples of Christ, and Christian Scientists. He called himself 'ecumenically promiscuous!

Murder in the Reading Room is exactly that ... someone dies (quietly and with no witnesses) in the busy reading room of the British Library. Hannah is there to look up a rare book a customer of her book shop has asked about. She and her aunt Violet learn he had been researching a lost piece of Italian sculpture, one that may or may not be part of a local families collection of art brought back during war times. It could just as easily be a replica. Which is it? Then it was stolen. Or was it? Engaging read, and part of the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mystery series by Anita Davison.

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The cold case file gang has solved every case they've been given. Some folks, back at headquarters are not happy with this, it seems. This time, instead of given several choices of cases, they are handed one. One that has almost no information with it, about it, witnesses, or so on. Have they been set up to fail? It sure feels like it. Then there is the vandalism at Andy's new restaurant. It's not even open yet? Why? Two intriguing cases face Aunt Bessie and her friends in The Snow File, the 19th Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mystery by Diana Xarissa.

It was fun getting back to the Veronica Vale Investigates series by Kitty Kildare. This time a barmaid is found dead, one who was well liked and popular. The police think they have solved the death, that it's an easy solution this time. Veronica does not agree so she takes on the case and looks into it herself. Death at the Fox and Fiddle is the 11th book in this series. Set in the 1920s the feel for the era is wonderful.

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Subjects for my non-fiction reads have been .... curious .... recently and today is no exception. I'll start with an unusual travel guide from Lonely Planet: Toilets of the World: 100 Strange & Spectacular Thrones, Commodes, Loos, & Latrines. Some are functional (re-purposed brass instruments), some are not (on the bottom of the ocean, a row of them). Some are remote (in a desert, or the arctic) some are on busy streets (big cities) or with an interesting design or feature. Spend some time with the photos.

Not sure why undertakers caught my interest but there will be a few books on that subject! Kenneth McKenzie and Todd Harra are the co-authors of two, the first being Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid. It is a collection of funeral stories that are sad, funny, outrageous, unexpected and more. Usually, but not always, there are 'hint's that a service might not be all that quiet so off duty police, in plain clothes are hired to be at the service just in case things go bad. There could be someone from a shelter who specifically plans on attending these services mainly to get a decent meal. A runaway horse drawn hearse. All true and respectfully told here.

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I have several friends who love to garden which is why, I'm sure, The Gardener's Plot, by Deborah J. Benoit caught my eye. :-) Maggie is happy to be back in the Berkshires, where she spent much time as a child. Since she loves gardening she has signed up to help Violet Bloom set up a community garden on a currently vacant lot, but one that once held a business that burned to the ground. There is one very pushy realtor determined to get that lot, and others ... he is the one found dead, in that very vacant lot. On opening day. And Violet is missing, too. Lots of secrets start to surface as Maggie works out what happened. Lots of hints about gardening, too, which even as a non garden type I found interesting. This is the debut novel by Ms. Benoit. She did a great job.

This is the second of a cozy series by Tunio Sahil: Christmas Returns to Marigold Falls (part of the Cozy Mysteries with Humor for Senior Women). Christmas Eve, and the annual parade are coming, and Santa has gone missing. This is most unlike him, so there must be a reason ... there is, one some forty years in the making. Follow along with the Thursday Morning Detective Society as they find him, and solve the mystery. Not a bad little story, but self published, and (remember, my mother was an English teacher) could have used a bit of proof reading.

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It didn't take long for me to pluck the third Unlikely Murder Club book of my shelf. Agatha is looking forward to building the props for the local theater's summer plays. It's just the sort of 'behind the scenes' job she likes. Until the murder, of course. One of her tools was used, but she's not a suspect, instead, she's asked to help find the murderer. As with so many mysteries, it's tied to 'something' in the past, in this case a pirate! There are rumors of a buried treasure and when clues are found relating to that, the search begins in earnest. An Unlikely Drama, by Gina X. Grant was another fun read in this series.

Murder, Mystery, and the Inheritance, by A.P. Wells, is the first in a new series and author for me. Hazel has given up everything to move to the house her uncle left her ... it's clear across the country, after all. However when she arrives she discovers the property is now a crime scene, she is a suspect, and there's a clause in the will that could keep her from inheriting everything. It's a recent clause, added since she's read the will ... she now has 30 days to solve her uncle's murder or everything goes to the local Historical Society. It proves to be a most interesting challenge.

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