Murder on the SS Rosa is from the 'other' series by Lee Strauss and is the first in her Ginger Gold Mystery series. They have a character in common, Haley Higgins, although here she is a nurse on her way to London and medical school. Her traveling companion is Ginger Gold, a (young) widow who did 'something' in WWI (we've not learned all those details as yet), so there is a lot more to her than the fashionable clothes and parties she loves. When it turns out the murder victim owed money to her late father, Ginger becomes a suspect. There are many others, however, and a short time frame to find the real murderer before the ship docks at Liverpool. I'm glad I have the second book here on my 'to be read' pile!

Remember Tui T. Sutherland and her Wings of Fire series? She's back, this time with her sister, Kari Sutherland, and the start of a new tween read: The Menagerie. When his mother unexpectedly leaves them, Logan and his dad move to the small town of Xanadu, Wyoming. There is something odd going on, and when Logan finds some unusual feathers in his room, he soon becomes part of it. Turns out, Xanadu is home to a top secret facility that keeps supposedly mythical creatures from the outside world. There's just one problem .... six griffin cubs have escaped. A wonderful story for younger readers with strong characters and great adventures, but older readers should like it, too. Tall Reader (who shared this book with me) tells me the 'grands' love it!

The fourth book in the Writer's Apprentice Mystery series, by Julia Buckley, is Death Waits in the Dark. Lena and Camilla are happily working on their next book when someone from Camilla's past appears, threatens her, and then is murdered. Decades old events surface, and friendships are tested as the who and why are determined. As much as I am enjoying this series, this one made me a little uncomfortable because the characters I've come to love are hurt (so be warned). ;-)

Reading Hermit With Dog