It's been a while since I read a book by Louise Penny so I was pleased when Kiwi loaned me All the Devils Are Here. There are the familiar characters we've come to love from Three Pines, this time in Paris (with Penny's wonderful descriptions) and there are bad things are happening! Stephen is seriously injured when hit by an automobile, Armand determines it is no accident, but why was Stephen targeted? Clues send the investigation to the Paris Archives where the old war records are kept. Apartments are ransacked, artwork is slashed ... someone is looking for something, but what? Unexpected, and unpleasant documents surface, proof that Stephen is not the man everyone thought he was, but are they even true? I found this book ... uncomfortable to read, not because of the writing, with Penny that is always wonderful, but because of what is happening! Plan to stay up late.

After the intense read of Louise Penny I opted for something a bit lighter and went with Eton Mess Massacre, the 12th book in the Albert Smith's Culinary Capers series by Steve Higgs. Albert is convinced there really is a gastrothief (his name), but no one else believes him so he is on his own (with Rex) to track him down. When a chef, the one most likely to win the annual Eton Mess competition, is found dead, Albert (who cannot cook, remember) steps into his place. He gets help from an unexpected place (as does Rex) as he tries to prove his claim as to how and why all the deaths and missing people from various small towns are connected. As always, there are recipes at the back.

Reading Hermit With Dog