I am happily working my way through the Lord James Harrington mysteries by Lynn Florkiewicz, Lord James Harrington and the Summer Mystery being the most recent. Summer time means the annual tennis games between Cavendish and Charnley and all is going well until the thefts of jewelery, once just posted in the newspapers, move from London to the countryside. The area, once noted for smuggling, is riddled with caves, secret tunnels, ancient paths … are any of these being used by the smugglers? And just who are the two young men who claim to be cycling across the countryside yet become winded on the slightest of hills?

A Symphony of Echoes, the second in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, by Jodi Taylor reminded me of an old pin ball machine. Rapid action that changes direction often and quickly heads off in unexpected directions … I may have even heard bells at one point. ;-) This is another fun (well, mostly) romp through time that includes Jack the Ripper, the dodo bird, Thomas Becket (and those are just the main adventures).

The Curious Case of the Black Swan Song is the first in a new series for me by a favorite author, Andrea Frazer. Sadly, she passed away a few years ago, but she wrote a lot of books so, thankfully, there are still many to read. The series this time is A Holmes and Garden Murder Mystery, which should give you hint! Yes, it is a spoof on Sherlock Holmes, and a very well done one at that. Sherman Holmes and John Garden have taken rooms at the Black Swan, both looking for a change in their lives. There’s a piper, too, there because his wife has banished him from practicing in their home. Turns out Holmes and Garden both are fans of (you saw this coming, yes?) of Holmes and Watson and a friendship, and then partnership follows. When the owner of the Black Swan is murdered, they decide to take on the case. An amusing romp ensues! Keep an eye out for other nods to the original.

Reading Hermit With Dog