There seems to be a new trend of talking animals in mysteries, and this is true with Cats and Other Calamities, the first of the A Case for the Master Sleuths books by Alex Wagner. The twist here is that while the animals can all talk to each other (and we, as the readers 'hear' that), the humans just hear animal sounds. So, how do the animals communicate what they've found? To complicate that, the main character inherited Athos (a Malamute) when her father dies. This is her first pet ever so she is not good at picking up on animal body language. She is at a reunion when a friend and former class mate is killed. This friend came with her cat, who bonds with the dog and they become the master sleuths in the series title! A great start, the second book is already on my TBR pile.

I wasn't sure about this book at first ... The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, by Michelle Chouinard, but then at least two reviews called it 'quirky' and I decided to give it a try. Capri earns money giving just such tours of the area, taking the curious on tours of where murders happened, or the victims lived and so on. It doesn't hurt that she is the grand-daughter of a serial killer, did I mention that? (She's always thought he was innocent). Then there is a murder ... and a second ... that copy cat her grandfather's methods ... who? and why?

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The Last Word, by Elly Griffiths seems to be a stand alone book (she's written several series). At 84 Edwin is still working ... mostly in surveillance (after all, who notices an old person). His partner, Natalka, is much much younger and the two of them, with the help of Benedict (runs a coffee stand) the solve murders. Edwin likes to read obituaries (and do the puzzles) in several newspapers. He picks up on an odd connection and then, when asked to investigate the death a local priest with a secret (he writes romance fiction, pen name is female)(!) they decide to investigate. Other authors die, there is a connection to a writer's workshop, and the who and why .... all make for a read that kept me up past midnight. :-)

To be honest here, I did not end up liking this book at the end as much as I did when I started, but it has excellent reviews (except for a few) that say otherwise, so I leave you to make up your own mind. :-) The Examiner, by Janice Hallett is one of many books she's written, but the only one I've read. There are six students taking a course that is supposed to combine art and business and prove that art classes are still important (the university does not think so, and they are about to be cut completely). The six are very different in age, gender, race, abilities ... the teacher wanted this to prove there was wide interest in her class. It's told mostly in emails, texts, and written assignments. I never warmed up to any of the characters, but that might be what the author wanted. Things take a curious twist when an old radio is stolen from the business they are supposed to be helping with up to date advertising and so forth. Things then change dramatically in the last third of the book as you learn what really is going on. It is ... unexpected to say the least!

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While not exactly a mystery, The Last Chance Library, by Freya Sampson, was still an engaging read. It's about the local, much loved, library in a small town ... such libraries are often marked for closure, because, after all, a book mobile would suffice, yes? This does not go over well as this library (as are many, I am sure) is more than just books. You will meet the many folks who use it on a regular basis, and why, and follow along as they rise up to save their library.

Tall Reader has grandkids. Grandkids who read ... real books as well as other forms, and they share the real books when they come to visit. Here's one that was a most interesting read: Restart, by Gordon Korman. Author has written a lot of teen/tween reads and won awards, and I can see why. Chase wakes up in the hospital, attached to all those wires and so on. Why is he there? And who is the strange woman crying? (It's his mother). Turns out, he fell off a roof and has been in an unconscious state for several days. Folks are relieved when he wakes up, but he remembers nothing of his former life ... nothing. How do you start over? When he goes back to school he learns he played football (was something of a star) and, with others was a bully and not a very nice person. This doesn't seem right to him anymore. Can he change? What would you do if you could start over with your life? There's much food for thought here.

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A Guide to Understanding the Biblical Puzzle, by Bob Bernet is the third book in his Spiritual Puzzle series, and his best yet. It is well written and easy to understand. I especially like that he explains many of the lessons from the Bible in a simple, clear way. You don't have to be a church goer, or even all that religious to appreciate them. You can be spiritual without being religious, after all. Give it a try!

Here's one of those fun trivia type books that are good for reading during the ads on tv: History's Most Famous Pets: Tales of Four-Legged, Feathered, and Furry Companions of the Great and the Infamous, by Lenny Lenski. There are pets from the White House, those who lived with Royalty, scientists, pop stars, sports figures, literary folks and so on. Cats, dogs, monkeys, fish ... and wild animals as well. There are some from ancient times as well. I did regret that there is no bibliography, but the author is good at saying when said pet might not have been exactly as represented in legend. :-)

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Date with Danger is the fifth in the Dales Detective Series by Julia Chapman. Sheep are being stolen ... all over the Dales and beyond, it seems. And they vanish without a trace, how is this done? Is there a way to prevent it? (I'd love to say more here, but I've promised no spoilers). Things take a more serious turn when there is a death at the most recent sheep auction. And, can Delilah (remember, she has a dating service) find a mate for certain farmer? This is a wonderful series!

Conrad, the talking cat is back! It's a complicated case this time, with lots of twists and turns in The Cat Who Solved Three Murders, by L T Shearer. Lulu (retired detective) and Conrad are off to celebrate a friend's 60th birthday. He and his wife are art collectors. All does not go as planned ... there is an assault (which includes a death) and a robbery, and more (of course) ... why the attack, and why these pictures? Canadian Reader is listening to the audio version here, and tells me the 'voice of Conrad' is perfect.

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I seem to be on a Stuart McClean path at the moment, having read several of his books of late. This one, Home From the Vinyl Cafe is more of the tales about Dave and Morley and their family and friends. Some were never aired, or at least are not on any of the CDS I have. That's always fun! Something new! (to me, anyway). It helps if you know the characters, I think. This has some of my favorite stories ... the one where they are ice skating in Holland, a bird that was blown off course and spent the winter in their yard, an unusual homeless man, a family vacation ... all done with the gentle humor and wonderful observations on the part of the author.

Here was a title I found hard to resist (and obviously didn't): Sassy Senior Sleuths, by P.C. James and Kathryn Mykel. It is a collection of six cozy mystery short stories. Follow along as the 'ladies of a certain age' travel and solve mysteries. I figured some out, others, well, I didn't! ;-) The stories included are: Over the Falls Without a Barrel; Deadly Dunces; The Man in Seat 13B; California Adventure; Destined for Sandestin; and a Christmas Caber. See if you can pick up on the clues!

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Looking for a job? Check one of these out! Quirky Careers & Offbeat Occupations of the Past, Present, and Future, by Marianne Jennings.Quite the fun read! Some we would expect such as dialect coaches for TV and movies. Then there are the unexpected occupations such as dog surfing instructors! Some jobs from the past, well, lets just say they don't exist anymore, thank goodness (intimate care of a royal person) but some I remember, and miss such as a switchboard operator. I think her name was Arlene, and she sat in front of a huge wall of connections to all the phones in the school district main offices. A call would come in to her, she would answer, and then with a cord connect the caller to the proper person. She was good, and fast, and it was fun to watch her at work. :-) Future jobs might include assistant for AI on things like morals and ethics, and virtual reality jobs or a space tour guide. A most enjoyable read.

Here's one of the special publications that pop up every so often: America's Weirdest Places. Divided geographically from east to west it served as a fun 'recliner travel guide' for this reader. It could be used as the real thing, too. :-) There are natural wonders, and man made features (the biggest ball of twine), museums, and amusement parks. There are museums of potatoes, and parks of dolls heads ... something for everyone, perhaps!

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Idaho seems to be a new trend in mysteries, or at least it is for me, this is the second series I'm reading that is set there. It is 1918 and the Great War is raging. Amanda has been persuaded to rejoin the local choir (they need altos) for the upcoming Memorial Day concert. Then, the most disliked member is found dead and Amanda's niece is a suspect. What she learns is sad, and dangerous for her. The sad part is that there are folks who travel around the country taking advantage of those with family fighting over seas. (Scammers have been around forever, it seems). Something Wicked This Way Hums is the second in the Music Shop Mysteries by Jennifer Lamont Leo.

The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead is the second Dog Sitter Detective mystery by Antony Johnston. Gwinny, one time well known actor trying for a comeback, dog sits to make extra money. This time, it is caring for the active Border Collie, Ace while his owner, Crash Double goes on the annual tour of his band (to avoid the Canal Carnival festivities). Ace and Crash live on a canal boat ... a special canal boat. During the opening ceremonies a body surfaces ... that of Crash, who was supposed to be in Dublin. The detective taking the lead seems, um, less than effective so Gwinny steps up to try and solve the mystery. Lots of secrets and history and past relationships surface making for a rather complicated case!

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Tall Reader loaned me Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt and what a beautiful, lyrical book it was! Narrated by an octopus! Tova wants to keep busy ... her husband has died and her son disappeared nearly 30 years ago. She cleans the local aquarium at night. She makes friends with the often grumpy Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who has spent his life in captivity (you will learn why). They figure out a means of communication that might help solve the mystery of how and why the son vanished. Great story! I stayed up past midnight to finish. :-)

Here is something totally different than what I usually read ... a medical thriller! Actually, a science fiction medical thriller! Recommended by a new person at the audiologist, the blurb and author (a doctor) information was ... intriguing! Primordium, by Mario Loomis is written for teen readers, which is good because I could understand all the medical terminology. :-) The main character, Noah, is a 17 year old boy, working at the same lab as his mom, a biotech lab. They have figured out a cure for cancer, more than that, really, but I promised no spoilers! At some point Noah realizes there is more going on, with big secrets, unusual side effects, and even a major twist in his life. Something else I liked, too, is that it is a "clean read" as in no bad language, graphic violence and so on. Lots to think about, though ... should we do something, just because we can?

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The Spectre of Hawthorne Manor is the second in the Homefront Sleuths Mystery series by father/daughter writing team of Anna Elliott and Charles Velley. It is 1941, the war is raging, and if that's not enough, there are ghosts. Evie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when Lord Hawthorne also mentions seeing 'something' she begins to wonder just what is going on. Then he is found dead at the foot of the stairs. Long buried secrets begin to emerge, estranged family members show up, do they expect to be part of the inheritance? Evie calls on her friends known as the homefront sleuths to figure things out.

The Cold Case Crew, and Bessie, have a reputation of solving old cases. A friend of a friend asks for her help ... his mother was murdered thirty years ago and it was never solved. Mostly he just wants someone to listen to him, which she does, but of course that leads to other things. This is not the cold case in the title: The Phelps File, so she is actually working on two cases this time. Fortunately she has some good contacts with people that can help. The interesting twist this time is in the title case ... no one is especially likeable, and they all lie! The 16th entry in the Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mystery series by Diana Xarissa has some good twists. :-)

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Thinking of visiting, or moving to Canada? Here's the ultimate guide! How to be a Canadian, by Will Ferguson & Ian Ferguson. The brothers have explained how to blend in during a visit or a move to, well, just about anywhere in Canada! There's a discussion over politics and sports, food and recreation, and, my favorite, language. (There's a blend of American-English, British-English, French ...) and an absolutely hysterical explanation of the use of "eh?" (yes, with the question mark, always).

I've mentioned before that I enjoy trivia books so there should be no surprise to find So You Think You Know Canada, Eh?, by Marianne Jennings in my blog. Full of fun and true facts it made for great reading during the ads on tv! The egg carton was first developed in Canada ... but not the Zamboni? That happened in California! Canadians eat more Kraft Dinner than anyone else, anywhere. In Churchill, Manitoba, where polar bears can be found walking down the street, residents leave cars unlocked to offer an escape! The instant replay, used so often in sports was first shown in 1955 during a hockey game in Canada. The green ink, used on American money, was invented by a Canadian. So much fun here!

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I had an eerie experience when reading Collectors, Cats, & Murder, by Kahty Manos Penn. One of the characters collects letters, letters from famous authors. He puts them in archivally safe page protectors and binders. Just before I read that, I, too, was putting letters (although not from famous authors, but rather those written during WWII) in protective pages and binders, too! The collector here was an elderly man, so why was he murdered? And what, if anything, was missing from his 'treasures'? Fortunately he has indexed everything, where he found it, when, what he paid and so on. It is a big task, to check everything, but when Leta and the other members of the Little Old Ladies' Detective Agency do so, they know exactly what is missing ... several letters ... there were many more valuable items, so why just those? There are a few new additions to the LOL Detectives this time, and as always, help from the talking pets (which only Leta can hear). This is the fourth book in the Dickens & Christie Mystery series.

The Dales Detective Series, by Julia Chapman is one of my favorites but I will say this ... Date With Poison was a tough read. The writing was as good as always, I stayed up late one night, and spent the next day doing only the 'doggy' chores, but this was one .... grim (and compelling) read! Lots of sad/bad/nasty stuff going on. The past starts to catch up with Samso, there are some unexpected twists, and a bit of a cliff hanger at the end!

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I recently learned that Baroness Orczy (The Scarlet Pimpernel) wrote short stories featuring one of the earliest fictional female detectives! That lead to Lady Molly of Scotland Yard, a collection of some of those stories. They are charming and clever and wonderful reads about all kinds of cases (not just murder) that stumped Scotland Yard, but I have to say that the text, at least in the book I had, was a bit small for my aging eyes. Just a warning here, don't let this keep you from these stories, or maybe there's a Large Type version available. :-)

Murder in the Scottish Hills is the second in the Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency series by Lydia Travers. The ladies are traveling to the highlands, by train, and they come across a body ... it falls out of the coach that looked empty and they thought they'd use on their trip. Also, there is something strange going on at the house where they are staying, something to do with art. The police are calling it a tragic accident, but Maud and Daisy think there is more to it, and maybe there's a connection, especially after a local artist is murdered.

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Here's another the mysteries featuring 'old folks' (there are many nowadays)! Problem is, Margaret cannot remember something she is sure will be useful. And it's her best friend that was murdered so she really wants to help! She has a wonderful grandson who spends a lot of time with her, and thinks he can spark her memory. Follow along as they investigate this case. The Margaret Code was written by Richard Hooton in honor and memory of his grandmother, who had Alzheimer's, and with whom he spent a lot of time. I was impressed. :-)

It starts with a rare bird, said to be nesting at a fine villa in the Swiss Alps. Lady Caroline has been sent to assist her Uncle Albert who is there to add said bird to his life list. All cannot go well, you know that, and one, then two people are found dead. She's done this before, solved a murder (A Body in the Villa is the third in the Lady Caroline Murder Mystery series by Isabella Bassett), and when the police are, um, well, not heading in the right direction she just has to step in and help! Sent in the 1920's, in an era of wealth and privilege, this was a most interesting read that came up in the box from Wandering Reader.

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Professor Fitger was looking forward to a break when he learned he was 'selected' to chaperone eleven undergrads on the annual Payne Experience: Abroad to London. (Selected meaning that the prof originally scheduled is suddenly unavailable and everyone else has a good excuse (think family, holidays, etc.) and since he is single, well ....) He is a literature professor, so he expects each student to turn in a short (500 word) paragraph about everything they visit, with a longer essay at the end of the class. The students, as you will learn, are an eclectic bunch! This is not a mystery, but The English Experience, by Julie Schumacher was not a bad read. ;-)

Another book in the box from Wandering Reader was All She Wrote, a Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery, by Tonya Kappes. There is someone new in town, Courtney, who is the niece of Florence, who does many good things for the community, but is also, well, sort of a pain! Naturally Bernadette (the mail carrier) and the Front Porch Ladies (retired neighbors) are most curious. Especially after the 'wrong' person is awarded a scholarship, there is an unexpected wedding, and then Florence is found dead! What will Bernie and the Ladies discover? It looks to be the third in the series.

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 A spin here, on the 'old folks' mysteries: Old Detectives Home, book 1 in the Omnipodge Trilogy by Mike Belfeler. There should be lots of familiar characters here! Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Dash Hammett, Dot Sayers and more! Some are residents in an assisted care facility for aging sleuths, others are staff of that facility! A body is discovered on the beach, that of a most unpopular person. He has been shot, beaten, bludgeoned, tossed off a cliff, strangled, poisoned ... just about any method you can think of. There is an abundance of clues leading to everyone in the facility. There is a raven, too, who has just one thing to say. (Not quite what you're thinking). A Detective Moriarty is sent to solve the crime. An amusing and clever read for sure!

Deadly Overtures is the third in the Music Lover's Mystery series by Sarah Fox. There are four finalists in a composing competition hosted by the Point Grey Philharmonic. Each piece will be performed and a winner will be chosen. Let's just say all the finalists don't get along, but still, it's a shock when one of them ends up dead. Once again Midori (a violinist) decides to investigate. Other secrets surface as the investigation goes on, and threats are made to her to get her to stop. (She won't). ;-) I will say I was puzzled by the cover ... the copy I had featured a saxophone, an instrument rarely used in an orchestra, and never featured in the story. Curious!

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Here is an absolutely delightful new find! The Cat Who Caught a Killer, by LT Shearer. And, it's the first in a series! Conrad is a most unusual detective. I won't say more because I've promised no spoilers and part of the fun is getting to know him. :-) Lulu's mother-in-law dies suddenly, from something that isn't fatal in and of itself, so, did she have a little help? And who is the new wife of her brother-in-law? Not a bad debut novel, I stayed up until midnight to finish it. Canadian Reader likes the audio version. :-)

Royally Whacked, a Duchess of Snodsbury Mystery, by P.C. James & Kathryn Mykel showed up in a box of books sent from Wandering Reader. It is the second in the series, and it might help to start with the first, things were a bit confusing at the start. Still, it was a nice little cozy with some good characters. There is the Duchess, of course, and a wonderful butler (who has all kinds of skills), three young women and a dog. It is London, 1959, at a week long celebration of summer. Join in as they 'help' the local police solve the murder. Don't miss the author biographies at the end.

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Here we are, back with Lady Hardcastle and her maid in The Beast of Littleton Woods, by T E Kinsey. Another delightful romp (well, except for the bodies) (it starts with a sheep), this time with what looks like to be a wild beast doing the killing. Then there's the curious incident of the messed up mail at the local post office ... someone is sneaking in and re-sorting the mail so letters are going to the wrong addresses. And there are sightings of other strange critters, too. This is book twelve of the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series. Just a fun read! ;-)

"And now for something completely different" is a quote from Monty Python, usually voiced by John Cleese ... and while that was for a comedy and this book is not that at all, it fits. ;-) Polostan, by Neal Stephenson is Volume One of Bomb Light. It is unlike what I usually read for sure and came as a recommendation from the person who rings up and bags my groceries when I do my weekly market. Dawn/Aurora was raised in Russia, er, The Soviet Union, and Montana. It is during the 1930's, so think Fascists, rising Nazism, spies, the Depression, intrigue ... she is fluent in both Russian and English ... she admires Bonnie and Clyde ... there is polo ... machine guns are smuggled in violin cases ... The author is known for his careful attention to history, and his story telling, so it's worth a try!

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I love it when something pops up when I'm looking for something else! That's what happened with Crossing the Line: a Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever, by Kareem Rosser. The game is polo, played in inner city Philadelphia (from a place known as "The Bottom"), the idea of a white woman who believed that horses were a way to keep kids engaged and off the streets. She was right, at least some times. She started the Work to Ride Program (still exists today). All kids were welcome, but you had to stay in school and do chores to earn the right to ride. For the author's family (written when he was just twenty-seven!) it was both ... older siblings started in the program but drifted off to earn money selling drugs, ending up in jail and so on, but for Kareem, it was just what he needed. This is a powerful read, much tragedy and death, given the location, but also hope and pride. And consider, too, these are Black youth playing a rich man's game. The teams they played were from elite schools, with parents who also played the sport, had access to expensive ponies and facilities (the Work to Ride team often practiced in a cow pasture). At one point he evaluates what makes his team weak and strong (pgs 236 - 240). I reread these pages three times, it's an amazing bit of writing, and thinking. What a find!

Many of you probably saw this coming, I'm sure! Peter Taylor also wrote/compiled Weird War Two: Intriguing Items and Surprising Stuff from the Second World War. Winston Churchill may be responsible for the 'onesie'! He designed an all-in-one siren suit that could be put on quickly in an air raid. There were several versions including denim and velvet. Citizens were encouraged to grow their own veggies so no space went unused ... check out the garden planted in the dry moat of the tower of London! Gas masks game in a variety of styles. There was a flying jeep (it was not successful). Love the posters and warnings and so on for keeping mum, tell no one anything!! Again, a most interesting read.

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Date with Mystery is one of those reads that will keep you up late at night, just like the previous titles in the Dales Detective Series by Julia Chapman. It starts out as an easy case: track down a death certificate for someone who died over twenty years ago, but is now part of a Will ... one that was recently changed, too. Everything should have been left to the son, the only living member of the family, so why did she change it just before she died? Samson is about to learn that all is not as it seems and so asks Delilah for help. This is good for her as she is about to lose her beloved dog to her ex-husband and new wife. Can they be stopped? It's his name on the papers, after all. You will uncover long buried secrets and the reasons behind them. Will stop here, but 'something' will make you chuckle. :-)

It's the day of the annual fair. Store owners are out displaying and selling wares, from books to pastries, it should all be fun. Until (of course) a body is found. In the local church. Someone is arrested, but Gemma and Mavis don't think he did it and set out to find out who did. As in all small towns, this will uncover secrets from the past which many would just as soon stay buried. A Murder at the Church is book two in The Bookshop Mysteries, by S.A. Reeves.

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A Body Under the Bridge is the sixth of the West Wales Murder Mysteries by P.F. Ford. Alan Edwards is worried about his friend, or rather, chess buddy. They play a game every Monday morning, have for some time, and this Monday, he's no where to be found. Because of his age Detective Norman does go to check it out and finds the house empty, except for a dog desperate to go out, and an living space almost entirely devoid of any furniture. Neighbors report seeing lights, and the dog being walked, but not for a few days. Then a body is found, some distance away, under a bridge. Gareth does not drive, does not own a bike, if it's even him, how did he get so far away? Lots of good plot twists here. Stayed up late reading this one.

Looks like Whiskers, Wreaths & Murder, the third in the Dickens & Christie Mystery series by Kathy Manos Penn will be a 'Christmas in July' read as I wasn't about to wait for December! Leta is looking forward to her first Christmas in the Cotswolds, but the mood is soured when the new (American) earl announces horrible plans to develop the family estate he recently inherited. Even his wife thinks it's extreme. So, when he is found dead in a ditch after a car accident (or was it) there are certainly lots of suspects! It will be up to Leta and her talking pets to figure things out. Just a fun series.

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The second of the Dales Detective Series was just as enjoyable as the first, also with some great humor! It's taking a while for Samson to feel (and be) welcome back in his home town, he left under, um, interesting circumstances. A resident of the local senior living facility shows up in is office one morning sure that someone is trying to kill her. Since she is old, with a touch of dementia and no real proof, he makes a note, but there's not much he can do. Until she ends up dead. Then there are other threats and attacks on residents of the same facility and the investigation heats up. Once again Delilah and her dog step in to help. There is also the search for the missing Ralph, but I've promised no spoilers, so .... ! :-) Date With Malice is by Julia Chapman.

I know you are not supposed to judge a book by the cover, but I really do like the earlier covers for the Enola Holmes books! Still, the story is just as good as I learned when I read Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche, by Nancy Springer. Brother and sister are working together now, and it is Enola who steps up to help when a young woman comes to ask for help in finding her sister, her twin sister. Family has been told she died, but Letitia is sure that as a twin, she would know that. The death was sudden, and the body cremated in a hurry, all with minimal records. This has happened to Earl, the hubby, before, too. Enola goes undercover in this tale, and it's down right scary, I tell you. As before, this is a hard series to put down.

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Lots of women helped out in lots of ways during World War II. Propaganda Girls: the Secret War of the Women in the OSS, by Lisa Rogak focuses on four from birth to death. Their job was to weaken the morale of the Axis soldiers. Creating false rumors was harder than you might think which made for a very interesting read. Detail was very important here, as was the paper a flier was printed on, or even how it arrived at its destination. How was this carried out, often behind enemy lines? Words could be changed in songs, or the tempo changed, or a subtle shift from major to minor all to make a once happy song more melancholy. The OSS had more leeway, luckily, as many of these changes, that maybe should have been routed through the higher ups, weren't, meaning they could be put in place more quickly and with less chance of being found out by the enemy. I read this in one day!

I do seem to come across some rather odd books I think! Weird War One: Intriguing Items and Fascinating Feats from the First World War fits the description. Peter Taylor did a great job scouring the collections of the Imperial War Museum for his books (yes, there is another one). One of the most unusual here is a portrait of President Woodrow Wilson ... done using 21,000 troops! (Taken from a high vantage point, obviously). There are chapters on deception and gadgets, communication, animals that were used, and what was done for fun. There was a shovel, made with a hole so a rifle could be aimed through it and it would also act as a shield. It did not work very well. There were classes in semaphore, the best means of communication from a ship, or in a noisy situation. Even civilians learned it. There were theaters completely underground so the show could go on even during hostile air raids. Most interesting!

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Here is the first in a new (to me) author and series: Date With Death, book one in the Dales Detective Series, by Julia Chapman. What a delight it was! There is humor as well as mystery here. :-) Samson O'Brien has been dismissed from the police force in London (we don't know why) and has returned to his small home town of Bruncliffe in the Yorkshire Dales (where the James Herriot books take place). He sets up a small detective agency, sharing the space with a local dating agency (yes, confusion does happen). A suicide (that isn't) leads back to the dating agency so he and the owner (Delilah, and her dog) work together to solve what become several murders. A grand start!

It seems I'm back on track with the Royal Spyness Mystery series, by Rhys Bowen now, with The Proof of the Pudding. Georgiana is pregnant in this one, and due soon. There is a new chef, from France. A certain kitchen helper (Queenie) is not amused, but Pierre can coooook! A neighbor, an author of creepy books, with the name Mordred Mortimer wants to have a dinner party to celebrate his most recent book and hires Pierre. There are thirty guest, most who do not know each other. One of the guests is Agatha Christie! A feature of Mortimer's mansion is the garden, especially the poison garden. When folks take sick after the dinner ... well, let's just say mayhem ensues. And it will get worse, one of the poisons found in the victim wasn't from the garden. Georgiana helps out, of course, even as near to term as she is. :-)

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Here is a non-fiction book that reads like high adventure: American Sirens: the Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics, by Kevin Hazzard. Similar services have come and gone over time, but for the most part 'rescue' usually meant 'swoop and scoop' by either police or funeral homes where the patient was dumped in the back of a car and raced to the hospital. Peter Safar, who developed modern CPR, thought this should change, but it was an uphill battle. It started in Pittsburgh. In a place called Freedom House. There were parts of town (think poor, black) where emergency services either would not go, or were slow to respond. This is where he started. He trained black men (and it was all men at that time) in basic medical procedures (making doctors at hospitals angry), provided them with the necessary equipment (this all took time). He taught them the 'language' they would need to use at emergency rooms so those there would take them seriously. They would respond wherever there was an emergency, but in some neighborhoods (think rich, white) they had to turn off their sirens and go at a slow rate of speed. In spite of this, their success rate of saving folks was high, but those in charge were not interested ... until there was a convention of ER medical folks, in Pittsburgh. Freedom House put on a demonstration ... an amazing one of a large, staged, accident scene. It described the accident, the injuries (including some deaths) and what was done. Attendees were so impressed that many cities (globally) set up their own 'paramedic' services (that word was new at the time). The mayor of Pittsburgh finally had to give in and set up services there ... but ... Freedom House was NOT to be given any credit ... truly! It would be closed down and the (black) staff would be given (menial) jobs elsewhere. This is a book that will make you cheer, and make you angry! I'm glad the true story has been told.

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Anna Elliott and Charles Veley are a father/daughter team who write books! The first in their Homefront Sleuths Mystery series is The Blackout Murders. It is England, 1941. Crofter's Green is a small town, away from London, but blackout orders and curfew are in place, and the local warden is very strict about this, sometimes, maybe too much so. When he is found dead there is little remorse, but they do need to find the murderer. Five locals band together to do this (older, younger, none of them police). They will have to dig into the secrets of the village and those who live there, what will they find? Wonder historical detail.

Late one night, as Megan and Fred (Great Dane) are heading home on a winding road an oncoming car, coming much too fast (she tries to warn the driver) plunges off over the cliff and into the water below. She calls it in but when the EMS folks arrive they find no body in the car. Something is going on, for sure, and Megan wants to learn what. It's a twisted path to the answers, and her trusted friend, partner (and maybe more), Santiago, is acting oddly, what's going on there? Think shady business practices, cover ups, someone who may or may not be dead. Dark Highways & Digging for Clues is the fourth in the Megan Henny Cozy Mystery series by Rimmy London.

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On an early morning walk, with her dog, Ally finds a body in the loch ... a blond woman, a stranger. Who is she? Then, the new bride of Hamish Sinclair (an earl) is poisoned. Is there a connection? Everyone in the small town is a suspect, including Ally. She sets out to solve both murders. This takes her all over the small town and businesses as she tracks down the clues she needs to do so. Murder at the Loch, by Dee MacDonald, is the second in her Ally McKinley Mystery series.

Not only has it been a while since I read a Royal Spyness novel, by Rhys Bowen, but it seems I missed this one earlier in the series as well. Heirs and Graces was just a fun read! Remember, Lady Georgiana is royalty (34th in line) so she can't be seen (gasp) working for a living, however, since her brother (men inherited everything at this time) has pretty much cut her off from family funds (due to his waspish wife), she is looking for something acceptable to do. There is a local family where the only son is gay, so, there is no chance of an heir from him, right? A younger son once lived in Australia but came home to fight (and die) in the war. Turns out, he had a son (legitimate and everything) who is the legal heir to the estate, when the time comes. However, he is from Australia, remember, and has to be taught proper manners! This is Georgie's job! Then, the gay son is found dead and, well, mayhem ensues! Hard to put down. ;-)

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A Very Lively Murder, is the second in the Three Dahlias Mystery series by Katy Watson. Two of the three actors who have played Dahlia Lively over the years are in the most recent film (one as the aunt now that she is 'old'). They've asked the third one to join them more for company, at first, and then because there have been threatening notes and 'accidents' on the set, including a prop weapon replaced with the real thing. Now it's just scary. Then there is a storm, and a flood, all elements for a good read.

Pumpkins, Paws & Murder is the second Dickens & Christie Mystery by Kathy Manos Penn. The annual autumn celebration is usually fun, it has been in the past, but this year someone ends up dead, and it is the ex-husband of a local resident. She becomes the prime suspect, of course, and it is up to Leta and her (talking) pets to figure things out. They are most helpful, but since she is the only one who can understand them, she has to figure out how to explain what they discover. A fun series!

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