I've been meaning to read The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, by Daniel James Brown for some time now. Tall Reader made it easy by loaning me a copy. Author did a wonderful job with his research, don't miss the notes at the back. I even started skimming the end notes for each chapter as I was reading, there's a lot of good stuff there! Rowing had always been the sport of the elite (think east coast here). Seattle was barely a spot on the map. The team was made up of the sons of loggers, farmers, boat builders. One was basically homeless (his father remarried, new wife did not like the son). Times were hard, jobs scarce and yet, they found something in rowing. Somehow, they found the rhythm they needed to qualify for the Olympics. I'm not doing this justice here folks, (and I've promised no spoilers) this is an excellent read, I was up until nearly midnight two nights in a row it was so hard to put down! Imagine an author good enough to get your heart pounding over the outcome of events from almost 100 years ago, where you know what happened!

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Murder at the Manor, the first in the Tommy and Evelyn Christie Mystery series by Catherine Coles came as a recommendation from Canadian Reader. The time is 1921 and Evelyn and Tommy are headed for a weekend at Hessleham Hall, usually something that is dull and boring. This time would be different. To start with, Tommy's uncle, the Earl, dies. Not unexpected, he was old, but the death seemed off. Now, he might not have been the nicest man, but he was better than his son, the heir, who makes everyone miserable his first day on the job as Lord of the manor. And dies the next day in a shooting accident. (or was it?) Tommy looks to be the main suspect as he will inherit ... but is that really a motive for him? Then there's the widow, the vicar and his wife, and a school teacher. Why was she included in the weekend gathering? Lots of fun twists and turns here!

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Having read some more serious, rather grim (but excellent historical) fiction, I opted for something more lighthearted, a nice cozy, perhaps. That was Questions and Quarrels, an Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy by Diana Xarissa. Fenella has decided it is time to drive around the island to check out all of the properties she inherited from her Aunt Mona. All but one are rented out and in good repair. That one is in a distant and remote part of the island, once home to a small, locally owned business that failed. 'Something' happened, years ago, something so bad that Max boarded it up, with strict instructions that it was never to be opened, never even discussed. When the land was passed on to Mona, she had to promise she would abide by those instructions. She did ... and in fact, even now, refuses to talk to Fenella about the abandoned building. Even when a body was found. What is the secret here? It is further complicated when possible relatives show up demanding access ... why did they wait so long? And why keep the building empty? Another book by this author that was hard to put down. :-)

A Well Constructed Murder, is both a new author and a new series for me. It is the first in the Bellbrook Murder Mystery series by Reagan Davis. Main character, Karla Bell, has returned to her home town for grandmother's funeral, only to learn that her grandmother has been implicated in two murders ... this just can't be true, and Karla sets out to prove that, with help from her little dog, Gucci. Not only are there the murders, but also missing money, jewels, and so on. One of the bodies is identified, only to discover that person doesn't exist. Some interesting twists and turns, here, and not a bad start for something new.

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Tall Reader brought me this book ... one of the grandsons ... a boy about the same age as the character is in this book at the start shared it with her and she then shared it with me. It is a story of survival, survival at one of the most horrible times in history. Yanek Gruener is a young Jewish boy living in Poland. He was 12 when the Nazi army took over and life changed forever. He went on to survive ten concentration camps Always hungry, often beaten, he tried to do as his uncle taught him, 'keep your head down and work'. At one point he is tattooed, his number is the title of the book. Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz, is a grim and powerful true story. It is based on the lives of Ruth and Jack Gruener, who both survived the concentration camps, and came to America to start new lives. They traveled the country, visiting schools to tell their story, a story that should be remembered. Mind numbing, compelling.

Much like the book above, The Personal Librarian, by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, is based on real people and events. Belle da Costa Greene was hired to manage, sort, and add to, the amazing collection of books and art owned by J.P. Morgan. She became well known for what she did and loved her work. It was always with a bit of a worry though, because she was 'passing' ... that is passing as white (with relatives from Portugal). It made for some uncomfortable reading! (intentional). Be sure to read the author's notes ... I actually started there as they give a good explanation of the times these events take place.

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Seven-Year Witch is the second book about Josie Way, the 'bookish' witch, by Angela M. Sanders. Josie is still learning about being a witch, thanks in a great part to a series of letters left to her by her late Grandmother. The retreat, being built at the site of an old mill (with a dark past) is, well, having some problems. There are rumors of a curse, and when there is a missing person, and then a body (not the same person) suspicions grow, and the main suspect seems to be Sam Wilfred, descendent of the family who owned the mill. Follow along as Josie learns more about her powers as she searches for the real murderer. A fun series!

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It was a long, hard journey for women to enter the ranks at NASA. Thirteen actually qualified for the Mercury program but were dismissed because they were female. Later, to 'keep up with the times' that had to change and The Six: the Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts, by Loren Grush is that story. With the shuttle program the doors opened for both women, and people of color. Eight thousand applied! Six were finally selected (wait 'til you read just what sort of qualifications they each had) and their training began. Each would get a chance (sometimes more than once) to fly in the shuttle and even (finally) work outside on the projects they were assigned.

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Canadian Reader has returned home, tree is put away so the living room can go back to 'normal', and most importantly, there are lots of books on my shelf! For no particular reason, I started with The Crimes of Clearwell Castle, one of the Lord Edgington Investigates mysteries by Benedict Brown. Young Christopher has finished his exams and he and his grandfather are off to the beautiful Forest of Dean to visit old friends. They arrive during the 'celebration' (a rather grisly one) of an old rivalry between a neighboring town. What's that all about? And why carry the grudge forward for centuries? There are two murders, seemingly unconnected. Lord Edgington is sure there is one, and he and his grandson set out to figure it all out. Fun twists here, and a bit of history about the towns and families make for another good entry in this series.

Retired police detective Albert Smith and his dog Rex are enjoying a quiet day in Biggleswade, where he's come to learn how to make a clanger. (Recipe included). This is interrupted by the arrest of the waitress for murder ... of the cafe's owner. Her reaction tells this seasoned detective she is innocent, but the police are not willing to look any further ... so he and Rex take on the case. Then Albert becomes the target. Bedfordshire Clanger Calamity, number four in the Albert Smith's Culinary Capers mystery series by Steve Higgs, has an odd twist ... a mysterious, evil character, in the background (for now?) who is controlling things. Why?

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I have been enjoying the Andy Carpenter Mystery series by David Rosenfelt, and 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas was no exception. I love the interaction with the dogs, and the character's sometimes sarcastic humor. That being said, I felt this one might be a bit darker than some of the earlier books, and with a 'gangland' connection. Some one Andy knows is being accused of murder ... turns out, he was in the Witness Protection Program and so is not really who Andy thinks he is. Still, Andy takes him on as a client, knowing he might be hard to defend in court. The process of learning more about him, and his past life made for an interesting, late night Christmas Eve read.

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Horses is one of the wonderful special issues from Life. As you would expect it's filled with great articles (the horse in history, the bond between humans and horses, and more), and pictures. I actually went through it twice, over several months, once for the pictures, once for the articles. :-)

Somehow I missed this the first time it came out (2020): Alex Trebek: Tribute to the Jeopardy! Legend. It's a special issue from Hollywood Spotlight. I quite enjoyed reading how Mr. Trebek got his start and what his life was like. Lots of good pictures, too.

Happy New Year!

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