Based on true events, The Girl From the Channel Islands, by Jenny Locoat, is both a grim and powerful read. Hedy Bercu fled Vienna in 1938. When the Germans come, it turned out the Channel Islands were not worth defending, so Hedy, a Jew, is trapped. Since she speaks both German and English, she is hired as a translator. She catches the eye of a young soldier and they become friends. This is dangerous, for both of them, on many levels. Things get worse as the war goes on. Still, there are a few things that can be done, quietly, to resist (or defy) the Nazi officers.

The second Inspector David Graham Mystery, The Case of the Hidden Flame, by Alison Golden and Grace Dagnall has the Inspector moving to the small island of Jersey. All hope of a few quiet days of getting used to his new job, new co-workers, and the way things work on the island is dashed when a body is found just yards away from the hotel where he is staying. Sadly, the man who finds the body recognizes the victim ... it's his fiance. Also, where she was found is curious ... she had serious problems with her hips (surgery was forthcoming) so there is no way she would have gone for a walk, let alone one involving a steep flight of stairs. Finding out the who and the why makes for an interesting read as the Inspector gets used to his new surroundings.

Reading Hermit With Dog