An English Garden Murder is the first of the Julia Bird Mysteries by Katie Gayle. Turns out this author is actually two people writing as one! Kate and Gail! It was a fun start (and two more books in the series are already out). Julia, recently divorced, (wait until you learn why!) has moved to a small town in the Cotswolds for a new start. When pulling out an old shed to make room for a chicken coop, a body is discovered. That, of course, opens up the proverbial can of worms as it is determined who it is and how long it's been buried. While walking her new (and as yet not well behaved) puppy she comes across another body. There is just one cop in this small town, so Julia, decides to investigate on her own (at least at the start). Nicely done!

I learned about new (to me anyway) category of books with I'm Going to Kill That Cat, by F. Della Notte. It's the first in the Housekeeper Mystery Series. It looked like something I'd like ... the housekeeper works for three priests! Do note that no animals were injured or hurt, in spite of the title. The opening was violent, and there were other such passages as well, and there's a stalker, so I was thinking 'this is a cozy'? Turns out there is a sub-genre called 'cozy thriller'. Isn't that a contradiction in terms? There were some good parts too, and I liked the characters, but for this reader, it was just too dark and violent to want to read the next book. Do check it out on Goodreads, though, it got excellent reviews by lots of readers.

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I've read other non-fiction books in-between these two, but I felt they just had to be listed together as they are both about strong women who changed the world.

I found Queen Elizabeth II: an Oral History (an extraordinary lifetime, told by those who were there), by Deborah Hart Strobe and Gerald S. Strobe to be overall a good read. The authors did an excellent job of research, of having interviews and so on, and, it's very balanced ... there are positive and negative comments. (One person in particular did NOT like Prince Philip)! Lots of politics, of course, given who she was and who she met over her life, some of it was a bit of a slog (so I did some skimming). I wish there had been a chapter on her kids, horses, and dogs, though.

The title caught my eye ... Sisters in Law ... and then discovered it was about two lawyers! Love it! The subtitle gives you the rest of the information: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World. Author is Linda Hirshman. These two were nothing alike, really, other than smart and female, but together they changed things, or got a change started. Loved the personal anecdotes, but will admit to finding some of the legal stuff a bit mind numbing!

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 I can divide But Have You Read the Book? by Kristen Lopez into three sections. There's the section where I've neither read the book, nor seen the movie (mostly horror type films). Then there's the one where I've read the book AND seen the movie (I read the book first) which included To Kill a Mocking Bird and Jurassic Park. And, lastly, the section for the books I've read, but have not seen the movie such as The Hunger Games and In Cold Blood. An interesting read, for sure, but I would have picked different books/movies ... but then, I expect most readers will be able to say that. :-)

Here's a book that should get you thinking differently about animals, birds, insects ... pretty much any living thing: The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, Compassion. Surprising Observations of a Hidden World, by Peter Wohlleben. Animals might have more of an emotional life than we think (or want to give them credit for having). Author has done a nice job of combining his training and observations with documentation from others. Food for thought, for sure! The translation is by Jane Billinghurst, recommendation came from Tall Reader.

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Playing It Safe is the third Electra McDonnell novel by Ashley Weaver. It's 1940, London, during the Blitz. Ellie has been sent, undercover, to the port city of Sunderland to look for, well, Ellie isn't quite sure yet. Before she even has a chance to meet with the boss, however, she's nearly been shoved in front of a trolley, and a the young man who saved her has died (and not from the trolley). As part of her assignment she makes friends with some of the locals, some of which are not as they seem. There is an unused printing factory (shortage of paper means no new books), but is it really unused? Ellie even gets to use some of her lock-picking skills again. Is there is a traitor? And just who is it?

After reading some non-fiction, and one rather grim mystery I decided I needed something lighter to read, so I grabbed the next Miss Fortune Mystery by Jana Deleon. :-) In Fortune Funhouse a traveling carnival is in town (remember those?). It should all be fun (Gertie wants to ride the roller coaster) but, of course, it's not. A body is found in the funhouse (seems a bit unfair, doesn't it) and it's a good friend of Swamp Team 3 (and Carter's mother). She's still alive but when folks step back to allow the paramedics to do their job another body, this one dead, is discovered. He is someone who has been to Sinful before and is not well liked. Unfortunately, the state police are brought in, this one a particularly lazy and unmotivated one who can easily see that Carter loses his badge should he do anything involved with the case. Complicated but fun!

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Sherlock and Watson are at it again! The Corgi version, that is! Since their visit with the Queen (who, as you remember, loved corgi dogs) they have become rather famous and they've been asked to come to Sitka, Alaska to solve a theft. There's a new facility up there, one that hopes to create a successful breeding program for the emperor penguin. They have had one hatching, which is perfect timing since there is an inspection coming up soon, one which determining if they can continue. That chick has gone missing and it is up to the mystery solving corgis to find him. The Case of the Unlucky Emperor is the 17th of the Corgi Case Files by J.M. Poole. Follow all the 'doggy' clues and see if you can figure it out!

Lane is happily adjusting to married life when a phone call from Scotland concerning her grandfather's health changes that. He and his wife basically raised Lane and her sister, so she is off to Scotland to see if she can help. Her estranged sister has been there, too, and then vanished again. Bodies are found, both in Canada, and Scotland with a odd connection, which actually is fortunate as it means Lane's hubby is sent to Scotland, too. As things progress, Lane's sister is accused of being a traitor during the war. Proving this wrong is the basis for the newest Lane Winslow Mystery book, by Iona Whishaw: To Track a Traitor. Pay attention, there are lots of interesting twists and turns here!

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Here's a book that allowed me to travel from my recliner, with a cup of tea at my side, and my dog at my feet: 111 Places in Women's History in Washington, DC, That You Must Not Miss, by Kaitlin Calogera and Rebecca Grawl, with photographs by Cynthia Schiavetto Stalinas. Wonderful one page descriptions of buildings and parks, houses and statues, with a photo of oh, so many places! I read this book with my tablet next to me and looked up more pictures while I read! All with no planes, traffic, or crowds. :-)

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A Trace of Poison, the second of the Phyllida Bright Mystery novels, by Colleen Cambridge is another good blending of real and fictional characters. A gathering of mystery writers, some famous, many unknown, have gathered for a Murder Fete (it seemed like a clever theme at the time). Each of the unknowns (or lesser knowns) have submitted a short story and the winner will have his/her story published not only in England, but in the United States as well. Then someone ends up dead ... the only person who knows the results of the competition ... but ... he did drink a special cocktail that only one person there actually likes, might have it been meant for that person instead (he is a most unlikeable person)? Phyllida is investigation, of course, with Agatha's blessing ... along with the most unwelcome or wanted help from the chauffeur! Lots of twists and turns here (remember, this is a gathering of mystery writers), with lots of folks with motive ... read and enjoy!

While at an Indie Author's conference the suggestion was made that someone needed to write a cozy mystery set in outer space. Leave it to Diana Xarissa to come up with one (also the start of her new series). She's set it up well, too. Alibis in Alpha Sector, a Lady Elizabeth Cozy in Space is the first leg of a two year journey ... through 26 sectors to get to the final destination (there's the 26 books). It's the maiden voyage for the ship (that still has some bugs) so it is not full (there's your small town). It felt a little ... off, I guess, since this is the first time in a long time I've met new characters by this author, but that should get better as the series continues. Try it, see what you think!

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We're back in Sinful, LA again ... this time for a wedding ... and no, it's not Fortune, it's Ida Belle, who has finally agreed to marry Walter. All cannot go well, you know that, and sure enough, just days before the wedding the caterer goes missing ... and her boat and blood are found ... it looks like an accident (but you know that's not what happened either, right?) ... so Ida Belle, Gertie and Fortune investigate. What they find is a surprise. Several, actually, making Gators and Garters another fine entry in the Miss Fortune Mystery series by Jana Deleon.

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There a lot of 'spins' on the Sherlock Holmes characters but Murder at Mallowan Hall, by Colleen Cambridge is spin on Agatha Christie! It's the first of the author's Phyllida Bright Mystery Series ... Phyllida is the head housekeeper (as well as a good friend) to the famous crime writer and she is the one who solves the crime. At the start, when Phyllida discovers the body, and calls in to the proper authorities, it's thought to be a joke ... a body ... in the library ... at the house where Agatha Christie lives? Really? Yes, really! And so begins this fun romp as Phyllida does what M. Poirot would do and solves the crime.

The Keepers, by Jeffrey B. Burton is actually the second book in the Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series, but the author did a nice job a 'filling in the blanks' (or most of them) so I didn't feel too lost. Mason (Mace) Reid trains cadaver dogs and he has one with a special talent ... somehow, with her doggy nose, Vira (short for Elvira) can separate the smells and identify the murderer. Not something that can be used in a court of law, as the saying goes, but something the police/investigators can, and do use. This is a police procedural, not a cozy, for sure! Lots of grim scenes and coarse language, but I'll give the author credit here ... it was used where expected (if that makes any sense) and not just to shock the reader or because an author can get away with using it. Good characters, loved the dogs.

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