Here's a fun twist on a cozy mystery ... grilled cheese sandwiches! (Recipes are included). Up to No Gouda, by Linda Reilly is the first in her Grilled Cheese Mystery series. Carly has moved back to her small home town after the death of her husband and has opened up a 'grilled cheese eatery'. It is very popular and things are going well until she learns the building has been sold and the new owner want her out. That person is the former bully from high school (so you know what's coming, yes?) A body is found. As the case develops it turns out there are many folks who had the motive to do him in, one of them Carly's employee. Since Carly knows that's just not possible, she does some investigating on her own. Fun!

I debated long and hard about whether or not to include Sweet Girl, by Travis Mulhauser here ... it is a loan from Kiwi, who liked it. I read it and wondered why! It's full of less than intelligent people, alcoholics, druggies, murders ... and horrible, horrible weather ... I went on line and looked up reviews, which were all good ... and, I had to admit, true ... the writing is very good, and the story of 'coming of age' story, is good (although why NPR calls it "hilarious" is still a puzzlement). Percy, the main character, is looking for her mom, who is missing. She's sure her mom passed out at Shelton's cabin from drugs, but when she gets there all she finds are two adults (neither of them her mom) passed out on the floor and an infant in a crib upstairs near an open window (you'll find out why) and covered with snow. She takes the baby, intending to get her to a hospital. How that happens is the story. I am going to describe it as dark, depressing, compelling (I did finish it, after all).

Tired of being 'hidden away', Fortune decides it's time to act as bait and draw the man who wants her dead into a confrontation and end the situation once and for all. Her life has changed since she came to the small town of Sinful and she wants to have a chance at a 'normal' life (big decisions have been made). Change of Fortune, part of the Miss Fortune Mystery series by Jana Deleon, is a bit more serious than earlier books (with good reason), but the sense of friendship and unusual, er, talents on the part of said friends is there, as is Godzilla, the alligator.

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Here's another great historical fiction read: The Book Spy, by Alan Hlad. Once the U.S. entered WWII, the military knew they would need to track down crucial information in Europe. Who better to do this than librarians? They were sent to neutral countries, from the Library of Congress to photograph (for microfilm) magazines, newspapers, books ... all under the guise of preserving them for history. At first, only male graduates of Ivy League schools were recruited, but Maria (based on a real person) had other ideas! Based in Lisbon, she learns that book store owner Tiago is helping those fleeing occupied countries get away. He provides money, and proper (forged) paperwork, arranges safe housing, etc. Now, the librarians were NOT supposed to act as spies, that was made very clear ... but Maria is in an unusual position (and, she speaks several languages) ... and soon finds herself working as a double agent, feeding false information to the Germans. This is a gripping read, and very hard to put down! Be sure to read the notes at the end. I actually started there, and referred back to them several times.

Seems long before Harry Potter, JK Rowling wrote a book that she read to her children, but never actually finished writing it. When the Pandemic hit, and so many kids were stuck at home, she had the idea of putting it on line for free and asking the readers to illustrate it. So, it was finished, and put on line and she received lots and lots of illustrations! She picked her favorites when she had the book published! The Ickabog (with Illustrations by the Winners of The Ickabog Illustration Competition) is a bit darker to me than the Harry Potter books (but to be honest, it's been a while since I read them(!)) and rather violent ... it's also a story of what happens when people follow leaders blindly and don't 'think things through' (as my mom used to say). In general it was on okay read, but I loved the illustrations!

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Here is a book I suggested to Tall Reader (and others) before I even finished it: American Sirens: the Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics, by Kevin Hazzard. There have been medically trained folks on ambulances (even back when they were pulled by horses) before, especially during war times, but then they always sort of faded from view. During the sixties, in certain parts of the country, EMS type services didn't always serve certain parts of town. To remedy that, Peter Safar (inventor of CPR, and developer of the first Resi-Annie) had the idea of forming a rescue unit for just that sort of area in Pittsburgh. Plus, he knew there was a better way to transport the injured than to just toss them in the back of a hearse (which was the usual means of transport) and speed to the hospital. He developed an intensive training program for these men (giving hope to many who would never would have had jobs otherwise) and it proved to be successful! When it started to catch on, however, politics, racism, and power plays came into play. This is a powerful read. It should make you happy, and angry, and frustrated ...! What an amazing job of research. Tall Reader has already purchased it for a gift!

Although it was listed as a comedy, there were serious moments, too, so I thought this would be a nice pairing with the book mentioned above. According to the cover of a Life special magazine I picked up this past week, M*A*S*H is 50 years old. (although I've just noticed it says 'reissue' in tiny print, and upon checking it might have come out in 2020 originally). I've watched the show, and done a lot of reading about it so I thought his looked interesting. It was! (It IS a Life publication, after all). There are articles about the book, the movie, and the show (and a few that came after). You'll read about the actors and the writers, the setting, and the laughter. Nice pictures, too. Title is M*A*S*H: TV's Most Extraordinary Comedy.

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Here's the second book in Jackie Elliott's Coffin Cove Mystery series: Hell's Half Acre. Andi is recovering from being shot, her boss has told her to take it easy (as if that is going to happen). There is a new mayor in town, one who wants to make big changes, but while on a field trip to look over some property (with a past) a body is found. Could it be the former mayor's son, who disappeared a while back? And why didn't the police do more to look for him? And what about two more bodies later found in an old chapel? This series is set in a small town on Vancouver Island so the descriptions of weather and the area are very familiar (and very well done).

I have to admit, I am thoroughly enjoy the Miss Fortune Mystery series by Jana Deleon, and Hook, Line and Blinker was no exception, it was a one day read! Some one has hurt a friend of Swamp Team 3, and stolen several black SUV's he was working on. Ida Belle recently bought one ... is she in danger? (you know the answer) What do they want with these vehicles? Join along as the team partners with other citizens (some not so law abiding) of Sinful to find out. Another great romp! Laugh out loud moments. Oh, and the result of the recount of the election that put the awful Celia in charge.

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Since Canadian Reader will soon visit and bring more of the Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy books I allowed myself to read the last one I had on my shelf, Orchestras and Obsessions, by Diana Xarissa. Fenella and Daniel are off on a romantic vacation (you know that can't happen, right?). He's signed them up for a tour with an orchestra put on by his former piano teacher. Turns out just two others have signed up, one man, one woman, not related ... so Daniel's teacher has divided up the rooms by gender. And planned every meal. There is very little time for cozy, romantic times, and even fewer once the body of one of the musicians is found. Granted, it's not Daniels case, but he is asked to help out ... Diana Xarissa writes fun stories and I'm looking forward to many more.

Okay, so the proximity to alligators was a bit much (seems at least one loves cookies), Later Gator was still a good read! I am enjoying this series (Miss Fortune Mystery) by Jana Deleon a lot! There are alligator poachers about ... now, this pretty much goes on year 'round, but if it's low key, it's ignored. Carter is trying to take care of things before the state becomes aware and sends a game warden. Sadly, this does not happen and that agent arrests a young boy (with mental issues). Since he is afraid of water, how could he be poaching? Carter has no choice but to detain him (nasty Celia is still mayor and has threatened his job). Swamp Team 3 steps up (of course) to help out. Oh, and Gertie has adopted an alligator (who loves cookies) and is determined to keep him away from any poacher. This causes ... problems!

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Based on fact The Little Wartime Library, by Kate Thompson, was a wonderful and powerful read. Clara Button has created a library in a tube station during WWII. It is the country's only underground library. It is more, though ... an entire community, with thousands of bunk beds, a cafe, and nursery ... and more. Her library is a safe space, and offers relief and a distraction from what is going on in London. Not everyone is happy with what she's doing though (helping kids read? having (gasp) romance books in the collection? handing out leaflets about birth control?) and there are some who want her fired. Be sure to read the notes at the back, too ... and plan on reading far into the night.

This is a new author for me, and a start of a new series for her: Gigi Pandian and the first in her Secret Staircase Mystery series, Under Lock & Skeleton Key. Tempest Raj has returned home town, escaping some bad things that have happened. That bad stuff seems to be following her as someone she knows is found dead in a house being renovated, and not just someone, her stage double ... so might Tempest have been the intended target? Lots of fun here, secret rooms and strange keys. Oh, and there's a family curse, too.

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Like any good second book in a trilogy, Miss Percy's Travel Guide to Welsh Moors and Feral Dragons, by Quenby Olson, is a bit dark. While traveling to Wales (and now IN Wales), Miss Percy, Mr. Wiggand, and Mrs. Barrington have been abandoned by someone they trusted (who also stole food and money). The one person they were told to seek out is dead, but fortunately, his wife agrees to take them in. Her interest, and help, is increased once another egg has hatched (it was thought to be a fake, a decorative item for the mantle, but Fitz new better! As they search for Nyth Y Ddraig (nest of Dragons) they encounter mobs (helpful and otherwise) and a nasty young couple who believe Fitz belongs to them and will do anything to get him back. Adventure at it's best! (Especially if you love dragons)! This A Miss Percy Guide: Book Two.

Alas, I had to skip the book previous to Fortune Hunter in the Miss Fortune Mystery books by Jana Deleon (at some point I will have to get an ereader ... but not yet). Still, this was a most enjoyable read, with one loud and unexpected laugh out loud moment! It starts out rather grim ... someone is scamming local, older women ... playing up a possible romance with a soldier overseas. However, he knows too much about these locals, so Swamp Team 3 think he's a local and when one of the little old ladies turns up dead (possibly because she could expose him) their investigation ramps up. Another great addition to this series.

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The title here, Secrets Typed in Blood (the third of the Pentecost and Parker Mystery books) by Stephen Spotswood, is a bit of a hint. An author asks the team to investigate a series of murders that seem to mimic the plots of popular books, without involving the police. There are many secrets here, some of which should not see the light of day. The plot thickens, as the saying goes, when one of Ms. Pentecosts investigators is found dead at the back gate. Why these books, why these victims? I've quite enjoyed this series and these characters, but this one seemed a bit dark to me. I still read far into the night, however.

The unthinkable has happened. Celia has been elected mayor of Sinful, Louisiana. She fires the old (really old) sheriff and puts an inept family member in his place (remember, Carter is on medical leave). When an explosion rocks the small town, concern is that it was NOT a still, but a meth lab (the former is ignored, the latter is not acceptable). With no one .... um ... 'effective' in the sheriff's department, Fortune, Ida Belle and Gertie do the sleuthing. Fortunately, they have good friends who will help. Expect another fun romp in Soldiers of Fortune, the sixth book in the Miss Fortune Mystery series by Jana Deleon.

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