All that is needed to formally adopt Catherine is to have her step-father sign some papers. He has no problem with this and yet, he ends up dead. You'll learn a bit about adoption law in Murder on Union Square, one of Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mysteries. The step-father is an actor in a troop that has refused to sign on with the Theatrical Syndicate, might that be a concern? Since Frank Malloy found the body (he was meeting with Mr. Vaughn to get the papers signed) he is arrested for the murder. How they clear his name makes for a fun romp through the New York theater scene of the day, a newly opened shelter for unwed mothers, and even a seance! This is one of my favorite series ... great period details and character development ... easy to read, hard to put down!

The Little Old Lady Behaving Badly, by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg is the third in the adventures of the League of Pensioners. Determined to provide money for better care for others of retirement age, they raise money in .... unusual ways. This time it involves the theft of a yacht. A very expensive yacht. One that the owner keeps 'off the books' in another country so he doesn't have to pay taxes on it. So, the thinking goes, if it is stolen, can he report it? Again, just a fun adventure, but I was also disappointed this time ... lots (and lots) of foul language which I thought was unnecessary. Same author, same translator (Rod Bradbury), so what changed?

Reading Hermit With Dog