I believe the phrase 'and now for something completely different' came from a Monty Python movie, but it would fit well here, too. How about a mystery where the Queen (yes, that Queen) solves it? Author S.J. Bennett admits that she and her family have been fans of the Royals for decades and her book The Windsor Knot is a loving tribute to them. A murder has taken place at Windsor Castle. The police are sure it's the Russians (what until you learn the 'reasoning' behind that (!)), but the Queen is not of the same opinion. Of course, she cannot openly do any investigating, but there is a wonderful staff to help with that! Charming and witty this was an absolutely delightful read. It looks to be the first in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates.

In addition to being one of the Grand Old Masters of science fiction, Isaac Asimov also wrote wonderful mysteries, including a series about the Black Widowers, a group that met monthly for dinner and a mystery or puzzle of some sort. I recently came across a collection of these: Puzzles of the Black Widowers and, while they are somewhat dated, found myself enjoying them anyway. Asimov loved word play, puns, and clues hidden in plain site all of which make for some fun stories.

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I was eager to read the second book in the Penny Green Mystery series by Emily Organ, but then had a warning from Canadian Reader that it was not quite as good. Remember, however, this is a relative term. ;-) The Rookery still kept me reading far into the night! All of the letters and journals Penny has from her (missing and presumed dead) father are in her carpet bag. When it is stolen by a street urchin, she and a bystander go after him. The streets are narrow and twisty in this part of town but they do finally catch up to the thief, only to find him dead in the street. His throat has been cut. Given the part of town it is, the police don't do much. As a journalist, Penny wants to know more and learns that there have been other such deaths. Then letters start to arrive, and people of a higher status are killed. Determined to figure it all out and catch the murderer, Penny sets out on her investigation.

Like the others, the fifth entry in the High Society Lady Detective series was hard to put down. It's a good thing Olive has been invited to stay at a former school chum's house as she finds herself unexpectedly without housing. Gigi's parents are on an extended trip so her Grandmother is watching the manor, and it's occupants. It is not going well. When she ends up dead, Gigi is the main suspect. There are lots of possibilities, however, and lots of 'reasons' (think changing of a Will) so Olive will have her work cut out for her as she proves her friend's innocence. An Old Money Murder in Mayfair is another wonderful read by Sara Rosett.

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Canadian Reader and I are happily working our way through The High Society Lady Detective series by Sara Rosett. We are up to book four: Murder in Black Tie. Olive has been invited to a fancy house party (you know this can't end well, right?). It's fun but soon turns deadly. Secrets will come out, the wrong man will be accused (and could well hang) ... Clear your schedule when you read this series, these books are hard to put down.

I was finally able to track down a copy of a book I read some decades ago: 100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories, edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin Greenberg, and Joseph D. Olander. If you are of a certain age, and read science fiction 'way back then' you should enjoy this collection, these authors were good! There's time travel gone bad, a twist to a bull fight, a 'be careful what you wish for', and so much more ... my favorite, I think, it what's at the end of the universe. ;-) And an aside here: this was a used book, obviously. It came from a site called Spraininc (via Amazon). The experience was great! The book arrived two days before the ETA and the book was as described. Two thumbs up for Spraininc!

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Sy Montgomery took on a wee pig, one who was not supposed to survive, but survive he did and he went on to be a positive influence on the lives of many. Her husband named him Christopher Hogwood and The Good Good Pig: the Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood is the story of his life. A beautifully written book, this author also wrote The Soul of the Octopus (this one is from earlier in her career), another amazing book about the human/animal relationship.

Tall Reader loaned me American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, and the Birth of Hollywood, by Howard Blum. It is non-fiction that reads like high adventure. The author did an amazing job on his research! And this is about labor strikes! There are bombings and noted detective William J. Burns has been hired to find out who ordered them (they continue during this time). It's back when travel was difficult, and took time, when a lot of investigative work took a lot of walking, looking in ledgers, etc., but Mr. Burns finally finds the connections he needs. Add to this the fledgling movie industry and D.W. Griffith, who might have had spot on ideas for the impact films could have, but overall was an awful man. And Clarence Darrow, given a hard case to defend. Find out how it all comes together, it's a fascinating read.

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A new author, and a new series here (at least for me): A Very English Murder is the first in the Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series by Verity Bright. Lady Swift has returned to England on the death of her uncle, who has left her everything. She is not your typical society lady of the 1920's ... she is a world traveler (helping to put together a travel guide) and has been to China (biked along the Silk Road), Africa (rode a camel), and India (rode an elephant), so when she witnesses a murder on a stormy night, she is not afraid to step in and investigate. It's a good thing she does as the local police do not believe her. (The body went missing). She has help from the staff of the manor house she has inherited, and learns, um, interesting things about her uncle, too.

A Cast of Vultures is another clever mystery by Judith Flanders. It's set in the world of publishing ... who'd expect it to be so dangerous? ;-) A neighbor have gone missing. Depending on who she talks to he is either the salt of the earth, or a drug dealer. Which is it? Watch out for the 'Thugs 'R' Us' that chase her (not a spoiler, it says this right there, on the back cover).

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When a young women is found dead in the museum, Daniel Wilson and Abigail Fenton are called in to investigate. Then another body is found. What were they both researching that was so dangerous? Old (tragic) events emerge in Murder at the Manchester Museum, by Jim Eldridge, assumptions are made, the truth may, or may not, be helpful ... pick a rainy day for this one, it was hard to put down.

We are reaching the end of the alphabet for the Markham Sisters Mystery stories with The Xanders Case. One sister is off on her honeymoon, the other is enjoying the quiet (and no guests at the B&B) until the fire across the street. That changes everything! And, Janet meets someone who knew the former owner (now deceased) of their B&B. She's always wanted to learn more, and this is an excellent chance to do so. There's more to the mystery with this, too. I hope that author Diana Xarissa has plans to continue this series once she's reached Z!

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Here's a cute travel guide, arm chair or otherwise: Totes Paris: a Dog's Travel Guide, by Rosanne Kang Jovanovski. You'll see some of the sites of Paris, learn a bit of French and there is room if you want to add your own notes about your journey. The illustrations are nice, but I have one issue (and it's all mine) ... I just don't like animals in human clothing and standing up. Not all of these were like that though, so I figured it was worth a read. :-)

Another offbeat and somewhat different travel read was Bad Tourist: Misadventures in Love and Travel, by Suzanne Roberts. On the back cover, this book is described as an "anti-guidebook"! It does have some examples of what not to do, that's true! Mostly I enjoyed the writing, especially the trip in Scotland, but I wish the chapters had been put in chronological order.

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Mollie Moran started in service in 1928. She was the scullery maid, the bottom of the heap, so to speak. She worked 16 hour days six days a week. Aprons and Silver Spoons is her story, written when she was 96! It is a fascinating look at time when the very structure of British life was changing. She does a great job at explaining how things were then and how they are now. There are a couple of 'asides', too about the gathering popularity of Hitler and WWII. Nicely done.

Here's a fun book whether you bake or not! The Secret Lives of Baked Goods: Sweet Stories & Recipes for America's Favorite Desserts, by Jessie Oleson Moore with photographs by Clare Barboza. This a great look back at how many of our favorite desserts got started and how they became what we love today. It includes home made treats as well as store bought (or from the Girl Scouts). There's a bit of history with each as well as lots of (I'm assuming, since I don't bake) wonderful recipes.

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It's December, 1924, in London ... and the Christmas lights .... electric lights are about to be turned on for the very first time. All that is known is that it will be done by someone famous ... but who? Movie Star? Royalty? Whoever that person is, he/she needs help (there have been threatening letters) and has asked Posie Parker to help. Can she protect him or her? Murder in the London Lights is a novella from the Posie Parker Mystery series by L.B. Hathaway.

Sara Rosett admits to loving (and being influenced by) Agatha Christie, and Elizabeth Peters (author of the Amelia Peabody books) and that is evident in the third book of her High Society Lady Detective series: The Egyptian Antiquities Murder. Olive Belgrave has been hired to prove that Lady Agnes' uncle did not kill himself, even though the evidence points that way. (There's rumors of a curse, too, as the house is full of Ancient Egyptian artifacts). Can she figure it out before there is another murder? And is the curse real? Just a fun series!

As the cover announces ..... " She's Baaaaaaack!" Mrs. Entwhistle takes her dog, Roger to the vet, only to learn the good doctor has not yet arrived at work. Then the owner of the local coffee shop is AWOL. And finally, her best friend is not home, and the cat is unfed. There have been 'goings on' out at an old, abandoned farm, could there be a connection? And is the red stone she finds in her late husband's work shop glass, or real? There are four stories in Many Happy Returns, Mrs. Entwhistle, by Doris Reidy, some are rather scary! (And yes, one involves her birthday). Never underestimate the power of friendships! And, if you are a 'bad guy' watch out for the LOLO (Little Old Lady Offensive)!

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