Murder in the Winter Woods is the 8th in the Julia Bird Mysteries by Katie Gayle (who is actually two women writing together). It's nearing Christmas in Berrywick, usually a busy time for the small town taxi driver. Sadly, his body is found when Julia is out for a walk. It seems at first to be an accident, but then something is found near the body that suggests otherwise. Turns out, he was not all that well liked, so that might be a motive? Then a local bee keeper, who IS well liked is also found dead. Julie believes the deaths to be linked, but how?

Here is is, the last of the Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy books by Diana Xarissa: Zephyrs and Zombies. Wedding planning is going on, one with a very short planning time so it is most incovenient when Fenalla first discovers that some sort of wild party was held on her land (and left a huge mess) and that there is a body. It's at one of her small cottages at the far end of the island ... and actually was set up in the wrong spot. Seems someone knew this, but didn't correct it. Just what is an undead party anyway? Motive and suspects emerge as the story progresses, the few (eight) attendees are not necessarily as they seem.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

Here's a fun read: The American Who Watched British Mysteries, by Arthur John. A body has been found, that of Lucy Dixon, and Detective Marlowe is investigating. It happens in a smaller, tightly knit neighborhood where everyone knows, well, everyone, so who committed such a horrible crime? Enter John Arthur (yes, like the name of the author, story was originally written as a gift for his wife)! Mr. Arthur is a widower who spends a lot of time watching, yes, British mysteries on tv! He also reads them, and has seen many on stage. Will his insights (often told in a rambling fashion) be a help or a hindrance? Title page lists this as Book One.

Here is book three of the Phyllida Bright Mystery series.  Murder by Invitation Only, by Colleen Cambridge features Agatha Christie's head housekeeper. She not only keeps the household running smoothly, but also solves murders. This time it is one of those murder parties gone wrong, the person playing the victim really does turn up dead. Phyllida attends not only because it sounds intriguing, but also to welcome the hosts (new to the area) on Mrs. Agatha's behalf (she and her husband are in London). When Inspector Cork cannot arrive immediately, Phyllida takes charge and helps the local constable through interviews, clues and so on. Turns out there is more to the script for the fake murder than one would think, there are clues to the actual past of the person playing the character. Many actually had reason to see their host dead. Interesting characters!

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

When keeping an eye out for another 'period' book I came across this one: Atomic Kitchen: Gadgets and Inventions for Yesterday's Cook, by Brian S. Alexander. Things changed a lot after the war, there were many improvements to the kitchen. The pictures here are wonderful! However, some of the descriptions of something most interesting did not have a picture, and that I found frustrating! There were sets of pink cookware, and a horizontal, looks to be a wall mounted, refrigerator!

Reading Hermit With Dog

Another new author/series for me: An Irish Bookshop Murder, first of the Mercy McCarthy Mystery series by Lucy Connelly. Mercy and her twin sister, Lizzie, own and run a bookshop they inherited from their grandfather. Things are going well until a neighbor, a judge, dies, on his doorstep, and accuses Mercy of killing him, loud enough for others to hear. She and her sister decide to investigate the 'why' here, why would he do such a thing? They hardly know each other. Going through his library of old books they discover letters ... turns out many folks had motive for doing the old judge in and it is up to them to figure out which one.

A large tract of land is up for sale. Two companies are interested, one will build hundreds of homes, the other a water park. The owner is looking at this as a means to support him in his retirement, and help with the medical care his ailing wife needs. His sister, who owns a part of the land is holding out, she does not want to sell. The small town nearby is not amused, they do NOT want this near them. Except for maybe one person, a policitian. The body of a surveyor is the first victim in The Case of Castle Meadow, one in the Inspector David Graham Mystery series by Alison Golden and Grace Dagnall. There are lots of secrets here, a 'find' that could change everything, another death ... all which makes things interesting for the first week a new employee at the police station ... Martin Standish. He moved his family here for a quieter life.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

Another new to me author is Julie Titterington, (lives here in the PNW), who is the author of The Dog Ladies. This book just seemed to get better and better and towards the end I was reading it while brushing my teeth! It starts with one of those murder game nights in the apartment complex where Priya, Gloria, and Ryan live (with their dogs). Things take a nasty turn when there is a real murder ... the custodian/handyman of said facility. The trio, two retired ladies and a young Gen Z gamer (with issues you will learn about as you read) band together to catch the killer. Lots of interesting twists and odd connections here!

It would have been fun to wait to read Murder in the Mistletoe Shoppe in December, but it's the 11th in Magda Alexander's Kitty Worthington Mystery series, and I have 12 already sitting on the shelf! It's London, 1924 and Kitty and Detective Sinclair will be celebrating their first Christmas together as a married couple. They planned to go to a family home in another town, but had to stay in London when a body was found and her hubby was assigned the case. The body was found in a Christmas shop, holding a marionette carved with the name of Kitty's best friend. Why? And what secrets did the victim take to the grave? Turns out 'other' things went on at the Mistletoe Shoppe during the war! Another great read in this series.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

A Village Theatre Murder is the seventh in the Julia Bird Mystery series by Katie Gayle (actually two women writing together). The murder happens on stage, in full few of an audience. First it's thought to be good acting, the play is a murder mystery after all, where someone gets shot. It's not, of course, and the prop gun turned out to be anything but ... It won't be easy to find the 'who', just about everyone in the small village had something to do with the play. Although the wife appears to be upset, Julia later sees her kissing another man, and learns that Graham (the victim) was about to serve divorce papers. Could it be that easy? Or was it the actor who was sure he deserved the lead role? When a member of the stage crew also ends up dead Julia determines there is more going on and sets out to figure out just what.

In the 1930's, in London, mystery books and stories were considered to be pulp fiction and not given much serious thought when it came to literary awards, or even notice. A group of authors set out to rectify that. Mostly men, but they did include a few women, who, quietly, brought that number up to five. Then they decided they should solve a real mystery to prove their worth. Queens of Crime, by Marie Benedict, is a blend of fact and fiction, be sure to read the notes at the back! I loved the process of them figuring things out, a case the police had dismissed, the victim being a young woman, on holiday, after all! A most interesting read.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

Here's a new author/series, one that was a great find! :-) Death on the Bookshelf, the first in The Pages and Paws Mystery series, by Poppy Bridgeman. Ginny has inherited a bookshop in Devon, one that has a lot of old files, records, and books, some that are valuable (and kept in a locked room). When a body (of someone not liked all that well) is found in her bookstore, she is the prime suspect. She needs to find out what really happened. She is 'helped' by her two Welsh Corgi dogs.

A Very Bookish Murder is the third Ally McKinley Mystery set in Scotland by Dee MacDonald. There is a writer's retreat being held nearby, featuring a well known novelist who will be talking about writing, plots, and so on. A novelist who has helped many of those attending with their books, referring them to publishers, and so on. Ally is happy to provide housing for attendees. The retreat has barely started though when that novelist is found dead in the ladies' restroom. She has been strangled. Everyone is shocked until secrets surface involving, among other things, plagiarism ... and then there are lots of suspects. This has been a great series.

Reading Hermit With Dog

The Dickens & Christie Mystery series, by Kathy Manos Penn, book five, Castles, Catnip & Murder is just as good as the ones that came before. This time Leta is headed for a cat yoga retreat (!) for some relaxation. The dog comes along, too, as do the other women in the Little Old Ladies Detective Agency. When the corpse pose almost becomes permanent, and with the local police not all that interested, they jump in to solve the mystery. There's some fun Arthurian myths and legends, too.

The Homefront Sleuths Mystery series, by father/daughter team Anna Elliott and Charles Veley is called a "historical cozy mystery" right on the cover. This is an excellent description and I love all the history notes they include with their books. The third in the series, The Spitfire Murders, no surprise, explains how these planes were built during the war. Parts were manufactured 24 hours a day, mostly by women, with inspections and guards and so on to prevent sabotage, spies, etc. so when a night watchman ends up dead and then an inspector, it's worth checking out. Just what is in some of the boxes of parts being shipped out? What is that white powder? And why, in an abandoned house, is there evidence of boiling seaweed?

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

Date with Deceit is the sixth in the Dales Detective Series by Julia Chapman. As expected it is well written and kept me up far into the night ... however ... it's also my least favorite at the moment because what is in the title ... 'deceit' ... is what happens and that is sad! The wife of the mayor comes to the detectives to see if her husband is having an affair. There are 'deals' going on that aren't what they seem, some involving land. Many of the story lines started in earlier books come to a head here, too.

I decided to partner The Otley Murders, one of the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series by J.R. Ellis with the above book because both deal with grim subjects. Well written, it will keep you reading, but it's a sad part of history concerning orphans/children's homes and the people who were there to take care of them. A dangerous criminal has managed to escape, one who threatened DCI Oldroyd ten years ago. Then, bodies start appearing ... bodies that are staged and with a message written on their foreheads. How is everything connected?

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

The Pony Express is probably something we all remember from the history of the U.S. It is easy to conjure up an image of a young man on a fast horse racing across the country (and boy, is it big)!, braving weather, rough terrain, buffalo and Indians. (it's okay, that was the word used at the time);-) And yet, much of this is not true! Many accounts were written years or even decades after the fact, or from hearsay, or second and third hand accounts, even those who actually saw it like to embellish! Author Christopher Corbett has done a wonderful job of filtering through all this, pulling out what was actually true and what wasn't in Orphans Preferred: the Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express. There's a lot of the history of the West here, too. And some nice mini-biographies of names you will recognize such as Mark Twain and Buffalo Bill. A bit of a slog a couple of times, but overall a captivating read! My favorite image might be that of the Pony Express riders racing past the crew putting up the poles for the telegraph lines that would soon connect this vast country ... and of the buffalo who found them to be wonderful for scratching! :-)

Stuart McLean might be best known for The Vinyl Cafe, a show on CBC FM ... although maybe not so much anymore as he sadly died at much too young an age in 2017. He also wrote essays on everyday life. The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks is filled with beautiful, lyrical, thoughtful essays on everything from the daily newspaper (the 'real' one, in print, that could be found on bus seats, park benches, in the break room), the family piano, worms, various months, and so much more. I laughed (twice in public), I cried, I nodded in agreement ... spend some time here, don't rush, contemplate what you read.

Reading Hermit With Dog

I'm not sure I agree with the blurb on the back of Paw & Order, the first in the Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery, by Chris Abernathy ... "What's better than a K-9 cop? A feline detective" but I will admit, I am a dog person. :-) Whiskers even has a badge! He helped the late husband of Sheila until his retirement, they'd even figured out a way to communicate with each other when Whiskers knew something Fred didn't. Alas, Sheila has not as yet picked up on how that was done, so when she becomes the main suspect in the retirement town where she now lives she has to figure things out for herself. A nice, light, cozy mystery.

This recommendation came from Canadian Reader, who likes We Solve Murders, by Richard Osman, better than his Thursday Murder Club series! It's an unusual team: Steve, retired, loves his pub quiz nights; Amy, working in personal security,her current client is a famous recluse, Rosie. When bodies start to show up, each with a bag of money, and with a connection to Amy, they become a team to figure who is behind the murders, and why Amy is a target. More of a thriller than a cozy, the adventure will take you all over the world. (Private jets must be really nice to have)! It's the first in Osman's new series.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

Nova Davies is new to the small Cornish town where she recently moved from London. She starts a book club at the local community center with hopes of gathering folks together. Well, she does do that, but all they seem to do is disagree! Then money was stolen, a lot of money, money needed for a new roof. Other issues arise, all seemingly pointing toward Nova, including the dead body that was found ... just what is going on? Is she really becoming so forgetful? And then there's Phyllis, an Agatha Christie superfan who is sure she can solve all these mysteries the way Miss Marple would. The Busybody Book Club, by Freya Sampson was a fun read with some clever twists to the plot.

A Most Puzzling Murder, by Bianca Marais proved to be a most interesting book. It's an interactive book, I'm told, in that there are puzzles to solve, and a few 'choose your own ending' chapters (remember those books??). There's a dark and stormy island where nothing electronic works, even though book is set in present day. There is a large, dysfunctional family and a spooky castle like home. There is a ghost. And a raccoon. Oh, and there's magic, lots and lots of magic, each family member having a talent at something different. The patriarch has called them all together (we know part of the reason, but the family does not). Yes, there is a murder, but I won't say too much more! Family secrets (and there are lots of them) emerge. I mostly liked this book, but thought it was too long, some of the story lines could have been shortened, or used in another book, perhaps.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

A story on war pianos sent me on a hunt for more information. They were upright, but smaller than the usual version, sat flat on the floor, and were made sturdy enough so they could be transported by jeep, or dropped by parachute out of a helicopter. They were made by Steinway. I found more information in one of the Images of America books, Steinway & Sons. This is a history of both the family and the pianos, it was fascinating! At the very end is chapter of many of the famous folks who played on a Steinway. You'd expect most of them ... Van Cliburn, Rachmaninoff, and Michael Feinstein ... but there is also a delightful picture of a young Elizabeth (the future Queen) and her sister Margaret who learned piano on an upright Steinway! I had to look that up ... seems they both continued to play throughout their lives.

British Culture 101, by Jeff Watson was mostly a fun read. You'll learn about things like money, government, conversation, the royal family, weather and more. Plan on doing a fair amount of chuckling! On the other had, I was surprised that there was no mention of the iconic red phone booths. Granted, few are in use as phone booths any more, but they are still visible! Many hold defibrillators and other first aid items, some are free libraries, some are mini tea shops, but they ARE still there! And, there were several requests that you scan those square codes for more, something I didn't do (but you might)!

Reading Hermit With Dog

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?

Reading Hermit With Dog

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!

Reading Hermit With Dog

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.

Reading Hermit With Dog

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. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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!

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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!

Reading Hermit With Dog

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!

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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?

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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!

Reading Hermit With Dog

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!

Reading Hermit With Dog

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.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

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.

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

 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!

Reading Hermit With Dog