Here's a book I could not resist, it's all about the use of librarians and archivists in WWII! At that time the U.S. did not have a good intelligence agency and the president was determined to correct that. He told the military to recruit folks who knew history, who could look things up, who could read and interpret it ... the military was most skeptical, but it not only worked, said 'bookish types' made for excellent spies! My favorite example deals with Enigma, remember that? And all the trouble to decode it? If someone knew where to look, it had actually been filed with the Patent Office in London. In 1927. With all the plans, how to build it, how to use it ... all in English! Then there was camouflage clothing (to start with) ... the military nearly dismissed it because it came from an artist and was considered to 'frou frou'! Museum curators were used, and art experts to locate and recover art stolen by the Nazis. Women were used, as were refugees ... all folks not really of a military bent and yet, they helped win the war, or as it was put, at the end of the book: "We need soldiers to win wars, but we need non soldiers to win peace." (p. 249). Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II, by Elyse Graham was a hard to put down book. You've been warned!

If you read, really read, and enjoy doing so then you should get a chuckle out of Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries and Just One More Page Before Lights Out by Shannon Reed. I found my self laughing and nodding in several places. There are chapters on how to choose a book, spoofs on familiar titles (just a list, but you will laugh), signs you might be a character in a book, and, of course, chapters on why we read. Those include: because we had to (class), to finish a series, for love, to learn, to cry ... all good reasons to keep us up late and turning the pages. Most enjoyable.

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Every so often interesting books pop up when I'm looking for something else, and I have to read them, yes? Such is the case with The Secret Life of Hidden Places: Concealed Rooms, Clandestine Passageways, and the Curious Minds That Made Them, by Stefan Bachmann & April Genevieve Tucholke. There are houses that look traditional, but the actual living space is all underground. There are tunnels leading to pubs, or churches. Hidden rooms behind bookcases (my favorite), and secret doorways. Some are long gone, some you can visit, some are the inspiration for authors. All in all, a good read.

Seems I've been on a bit of a 'death' binge recently. I'm going to credit (or blame) that on the fact that I got my will all updated and in place last year. (It's as good a reason as any, yes?) I also liked the title of this book by Spencer Henry and Madison Reyes: Obitchuary: the Big Hot Book of Death. It's based on a podcast, which, as I under-stand, can take on a life of their own! The authors were exchanging the most outlandish obits they could find (not all are nice) and that lead to how we handle death so there are chapters on what to do with the deceased: burial, cremation, casket, coffin, natural, embalming (and to what degree), and on how to acknowledge that death: somber and serious or a celebration of life (which can include strippers!), with crowds of people, or just a few friends. You will also read about executions and pet cemeteries. Nicely written, but maybe something for a summer day? ;-)

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The Newton File, one of the Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mystery series, by Diana Xarissa, introduces a new, despicable character: Jeremy. He is a reporter for a London newspaper and seems determined to show the cold case team in the worst light possible. He can't have access to the police files, but there's been a lot in the newspapers about this cold case, including an annual update so he has much to work with ... and is happy using it ... then there's a recent missing person. The owners of the Seaview report that he checked in and hasn't been seen since. The friends he came with are not worried, and yet ... join in as this unusual team work to solve two mysteries!

After a rather intense read I opted for the third in the Enola Holmes stories by Nancy Springer. The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets was another fun romp with Sherlock Holmes younger sister. Dr. Watson has gone missing. Enola has met him, and likes him and wants to help. Using a disguise, she visits his wife, taking a nice bunch of flowers (flowers all have meanings, you know) and while there she notices a most unusual display with some most unusual blooms ... with a meaning that might mean death. Now, Sherlock is also looking for his friend and Enola needs to keep out of his way. How she does this makes for a wonderful way to spend a cold, winter afternoon! :-)

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Timing was nearly perfect with the arrival of A Body Out at Sea, by P.F. Ford. It's the second in the West Wales Murder Mysteries series. I could start it almost immediately!It starts with a pile of clothes, and a towel, all neatly folded near the water. Folks report seeing a man jogging earlier in the day, but why he would go swimming on such a cold day, and in a dangerous area is anyone's guess. Was it suicide? Or something carefully planned to get out of a bad situation of some sort? Then a skull is found when builders are digging a foundation for an extension on a home. Now there are two mysteries to solve. The skull is identified as a young woman who went missing some years back and the daughter of the woman who lives next door to the extension that is being built. She says that is not possible, but then, she is known to have memory issues. Her ex is still in the picture (a VERY odd situation). Then, the daughter does show up alive. How can that be? There is a record of just one birth ... lots of twists and turns in the plot. I thought I'd figured some of it out, but I was wrong! This is proving to be an excellent series!

Louise Penny is an amazing writer, it's easy to get caught up in her books. That being said, I am finding she is a bit dark for me these days, The Grey Wolf fitting into that pattern. Beautiful writing, but oh, so challenging. Armand is summoned to a meeting with a curious man, who gives him cryptic messages and dies in his arms. Those comments will make him wonder who he can trust, (amongst folks he has worked with for years). Why is a monk 'out of uniform' and walking down the street? The odd messages and some curious events make him wonder if there is a threat, a serious threat coming. And does it involve water? A tough read, but it is Louise Penny!

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Ever since Tall Reader told me about a movie she saw about the black women of the 6888 battalion I've been looking for a book (movie is on a streaming service I don't have) ... with little luck ... one was one of the worst books I've read in a long time (self-published, needed an editor!) ... the other, though, turned out quite good! While there wasn't enough on the 6888th, it was an incredible history book (read sort of like a doctoral thesis) ... To Serve My Country, To Serve My Race: the Story of the Only African American WACS Stationed Overseas during World War II, by Brenda L. Moore. It discusses all of those who served, why they chose the military, their background and education. Just a fascinating read! There is an excellent bibliography, end notes and index. too.

Here's a good, fun, entertaining book that is perfect for reading during the ads on a tv show! (I've included others in my posts). :-) The United States of Epic Fails: 52 Crazy Stories and Blunders Through History That You Didn't Get Taught in School, by Bill O'Neill. It includes those 'oops' moments in business, politics, military and sports. Some were unexpected, some not (when looked at from today's perspective), and my favorite ... the winning touchdown for a major game ... scored when the guy carrying the ball crossed the wrong end zone!

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As with the first in the Enola Holmes series, I really believe that someone who is familiar with both the Holmes characters, and the era where they take place will enjoy these more than the intended age group of 8 - 12! In this case, it's because of the the discussion of mesmerism. :-) The Case of the Left Handed Lady is the second in the series by Nancy Springer and is full of delightful quirks and historical bits and bobs. This time Enola is looking for a missing daughter ... Lady Cecily, who has vanished without a trace. During her search Enola has discovered some charcoal drawings Cecily has done. They are much different than the childish ones she has done that hang on the walls. Why is this? (There is a hint in the title).

Here it is, the book we've all been waiting for (well, okay, some of us ...) ;-) The Gastrothief, one of Steve Higgs Albert Smith's Culinary Capers mysteries. Albert is closing in on the mastermind behind the kidnapping of chefs and supplies, proving he is not just a crazy old man with a dog! Rex is on the trail of a scent ... one of meat, when he goes missing and the search for him brings this series to a rousing conclusion (almost)! We finally meet the paranoid person behind the quest for the perfect survival community. It's a great read ... and, since Albert and Rex have not yet visited all the small towns planned on their original journey, there are a few more books to come!

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 I love a good musical ... I am 'old school' in that I am stuck, with few exceptions, in the days of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe and so on. And while I do enjoy the movie versions of some of them, for others, well, the big screen is ... too much ... the story and music are much better when 'limited' to the space on a stage. (An an example would be "People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma! where, on stage, the two leads sang, under spotlights that never quite touched vs a wide open meadow, vaseline lens, and the two embracing ...) While I've read about the composers and lyricists, and some of the actors, this is my first book about the dancers! And what a read it was! It's all here ... the auditions, the rehearsals, the directors and choreographers ... the good, the bad (some so bad they closed opening night) and, like Box Office Poison, (below) a few 'what were they thinking?' ... I Danced on Broadway: Memoir of a Career on Stage, by Lee Wilson was a most entertaining and informative read!

Not every film makes a profit, we know that, but these, the ones discussed in Box Office Poison: Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops, by Tim Robery are the ones that failed big time. (Although some have a cult following now, due to streaming services). From silent and black and white to color, special effects and computer generated images, here are the movies that failed to capture an audience. It includes sequels, adaptations from books, and a few 'what were they thinking?' ... all in all a most engaging read.

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Here's the first in a new-to-me series: A Body on the Beach. It is the first of the West Wales Murder Mysteries by P.F. Ford, and what a wonderful read it was! Detective Norman has been brought out of retirement to head up a group of 'misfits' (says so on the back cover) that have all been sent to a small town in Wales to get them out of the way. In the past all cases of any interest have been sent on to Inspector Hickstead, from Region (he's smarter than all of the misfits, after all) but this time, when a body is found on the beach, and with Detective Norman in charge that's all about to change. Turns out the 'misfits' have good instincts, and good training, but they've all run afoul of the powers that be at some point. Norman is good at letting people use their strengths, gives credit where it's due and so on. It's amazing what that can do for folks! An amazing start for what Canadian Reader said is an amazing series! :-)

I was always rather fond of Queen Elizabeth and was pleased when S.J. Bennett came out with the series Her Majesty the Queen Investigates. This one: A Death in Diamonds, is the fourth in the series and was a grand read. Strange things have been happening ... a speech goes missing, every copy .... EVERY copy, including the carbon copies that should be in files. Fortunately a young staff woman remembers the speech, word for word so can recreate it. The Queen likes Joan and asks her to fill in for someone who needs, hm ... well, you'll have to read the book to find that out ... The male staff do NOT like her (she's really, really good at her job). Then the Queen is served oysters when on tour. She loves them but never eats them when they don't come from her own kitchen, and staff know this, so who made this error? Could someone on her staff be out to 'get her' for some reason? Who can she trust? And what about those dead bodies, one wearing an expensive tiara?

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