All retired inspector Tom Ramsey wants is to enjoy his retirement, with his dog. It didn't start out the way it was planned, he and his wife were going to travel, but she died. At some point he decided to hike various trails in England, with his dog. That's not going as planned, either ... murder keeps finding him and he ends up helping with the investigation. This time, however, he's considered a suspect! Ramsey and the Smuggling Ring is the second in the One Man and His Dog series by P.C. James. Lots of interesting twists.

It's been quiet for the Thursday Murder Club. (Also the name of the series). There is an upcoming wedding and a few family issues for folks, but then a wedding guest asks Elizabeth for help and Nick vanishes and things heat up. There is a car bomb, too, and a safe that may or maybe not be unopenable. Oh, and a large (maybe) fortune. The Impossible Fortune, by Richard Osman, is the newest in this series. I found it a bit scattered, but, it has been a while since I read any of the others! As usual, though, the characters were great. :-)

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What do retired spies like to do in retirement? Solve mysteries, of course! Here is the second Friday Street Murder Mystery by Russell Cooper: Easier Dead Than Done. Two murders have taken place, one in Italy, the second in England. Five years later the team get a letter asking for their help in solving them, and preventing a third muder. This is curious, yes? Follow along with this delightful gang of old spies (both field agents and those in the 'intelligence' part Military Intelligence) (the twins) as they discover and figure out the clues. Hard to put down.

Love the fact that in The Old Dogs' Club mysteries everyone is old! Dogs and humans alike. Old Dogs, Old Bones is the second in this series by Madison Boyd. There has been a massive storm and the wishing well, near the edge of the hill, is starting to slide. That includes mud, stones, coins ... and bones ... the belong to someone who went missing fifty years ago after the senior prom. The locals still remember her. They drag out old annuals and look for pictures of her ... she was active in a lot of clubs. Then they notice something about those photos, which takes them to the actual photos, not the ones cropped, etc. for the annual and they discover ... more. A good way to get everyone together is a reunion, so one is planned for many graduating classes (it was a small school). What will happen?

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I'm not sure whether to post Always Remember: the Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm by Charlie Mackesy as fiction or non-fiction. It's classified as a 'graphic novel' which does me no good at all because I think what's being said is factual! We meet up with the delightful characters from the earlier book again, this time after a big storm. The art work, as expected, is sweet and gentle. The story is a timeless message about self acceptance, liking who you are, having hope, being kind to others ... all things that felt so good in these troubled and chaotic times. I read it twice through in one sitting. Take some time, enjoy the artwork

From Canada today: before I saw the series Murdoch Mysteries I read some of the books by Maureen Jennings. Set in Toronto in the late 19th century it's a wonderful period piece. :-) The tv series is also excellent with a good cast starring Yannick Bisson. Watching them follow the clues that solve crime in that time period is fun! It almost borders on the science fiction sometimes, I think ... An earlier Canadian entry, Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy was also made into a tv series (I've not seen it) and it also stars Yannick Bisson.

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Alas, Gone With the Woodwinds looks to be the last of the Music Shop Mysteries (book four) by Jennifer Lamont Leo (there is a novella, but it's only available with kindle). There is an annual music competition that changes location each year, giving many small towns chance to benefit from being the host. Amanda Parrish (owner of the store) writes an old classmate of hers asking him to judge the woodwinds. He agrees ... and then is killed. Suspicion falls on Amanda's friend (couldn't happen!) so she starts her own investigation (works with the police though). There are lots of possibilities for motive: grudges, jealousy, revenge ... I love the connection with music in this series, I hope there will be more.

Murder Aboard the Olympic, by Jennifer S. Alderson is the first in her new series A Traveler's Tale of Murder. Set in the 1920's, the descriptions of the era are excellent. The main character, Evelyn is a journalist from America, one of the few women in that field. She is headed to do a series of travel stories across Europe, but her boss has requested that she do one about the crossing as well. A quiet crossing, with lots of well to do folks, is expected. Instead, another journalist is found murdered. He was not well liked as he often wrote about scandals and secrets and so on. In fact, he was fired from his job for doing just that. Then it was discovered he was blackmailing many of those making the crossing, too. This makes for many suspects! Can the murderer be found before they reach England?

From Canada today is author Kate Whishaw. I have posted all (I think) of her Lane Winslow Historical mystery books. They are beautifully written.

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I do have a fondness for mysteries with dogs, that should come as no surprise. :-) Sniffing Out Murder, by Kallie E. Benjamin, features Bailey, a Bloodhound. His owner, Priscilla, has recently quit her job to write (about him) full time ... her book for children was a huge success and her agent and publisher want more. She gets distracted from that when someone from her high school graduating class (not nice then, not nice now) is found dead ... by Bailey! That must mean he and Lyssa have to investigate, yes? ;-) This is the first of the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series.

The Armada Boy is the second in the DI Wesley Peterson series by Kate Ellis that was recommended by Canadian Reader. A group of veterans, from D-Day have gathered for a reunion at their wartime base. It's on an island that was evacuated to give the military a place to practice that invasion. (Read the notes at the back, they are fascinating). One is found dead in the ruins of an old church. The question, of course, is why? And, as with her first book, there is an event from 400 years earlier, a Spanish invasion of that island ... it did not go off as planned, the ship sunk and those that survived and made it to shore were killed by the locals. Could there be connections when it comes to motive? This is turning out to be a most interesting series.

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Faith Martin, author of many books, has started a new series with The Oxford Detective Society. Lyssa Moore loves writing biographies, even when she is the ghost author. She is asked by a relative to write about Amelia 'Monty' Montrose who died in the 1960's, at her birthday party. Her husband had died shortly before. It was deemed an accident or possibly suicide and the case was closed. The more Lyssa learns, the more odd things start to happen ... someone breaks into her home, her phone (land line) is sounding strange, someone may be following her ... someone who doesn't want the truth to come out, perhaps? She has help from her Oxford friends and Bibbie, her cat. Great start!

Canadian selections come from Wandering Reader today. While the last two are fiction authors, seems these first two lean more towards being artists! I do recognize Emily Carr and like her work, but Charles van Sandwyk was totally new to me. Descriptions of his art include "enchanting" and "endearing" and if you look him up, which is what I did, I think you'll agree! There are fairies and wonderful, whimsical birds, beautiful forests and clever insects. Take a look!

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It's summer so the doors and windows are open. I am now into hearing aids and while they are most certainly better than the ones my dad wore, they still are just amplifying sound ... so I am finding crows and seagulls to be loud and at times annoying. Still, crows are smart, we all know this, so I found a book. Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys of the Avian World, by Candace Savage. Research included studies of their intellect, social interactions (with other crows, animals, and humans), and emotions. This is the 10th anniversary edition and includes personal stories of experiences of crows. It was a captivating read with just one complaint ... the layout is confusing! You turn the page, expecting to continue on with what you've been reading only to discover one of the personal stories instead. The chapter you are reading continues on in a a page or two. I finally figured out these entries have a subtle header and footer and went through and read those first, then went back and read the 'other' part of the book. Personally, I think this could have been done a better way. Still, the book was a good read, and won't take you long. Candace Savage is a Canadian author.

I like to read, and write (and was raised by an English teacher) so it's no surprise that I enjoy words and learning about them. I did that in Friends With Words: Adventures in Languageland, by Martha Barnette. The author is co-host of a show on PBS called A Way With Words, which I have not heard, but have read that it is excellent. In this book you will learn about origins, and regional differences (and why those occur), as well as slang and those odd phrases we sometimes hear from our grandparents (or someone of that age). Often humorous!

My Mom was always big on 'honey, think it through' so I am channeling her with this suggested read (on this 25th anniversary of 9/11) (or reread, hopefully) from my post of June 29, 2014: The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland, by Jim Defede. Small town, but with runways long enough for the big jets to land, it's where many planes ended up after the attacks on the twin towers, Pennsylvania and WA DC. In these unsettled times between our countries, think of our past history.

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Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Flo, are at it again. I do love this team! They are wonderful partners in figuring out a murder but can also play the perfect society woman and her proper maid when necessary. That is a hoot! In Murder on the Rocks they have been invited to a castle/fortress on a remote island that has been redesigned as a destination for the wealthy ... by an American. Everyone is supposed to be a special friend of this American, but it seems an unlikely group. When the husband of one of the guests (can be rather abusive to his blind wife) if found dead, no one is all that upset, but when a second body appears it's a bit more concerning. And, in good mystery plotting, there is a storm and they are trapped on the island. :-) This is part of the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series by T E Kinsey.

From Canada today it's Stuart McClean. I first learned of him on CBC FM and his radio show The Vinyl Cafe. He spoke once at Village Books. He was amazing (and died much too soon). Most, if not all, his books are somewhere in this blog. In the ones that are the stories (often in much greater detail) from the radio show I can hear his voice. The Morningside World of Stuart McLean are essays from another radio show (with that name, one that I never heard) about many of the small things in life, a pencil, perhaps, or the popsicle. Witty and charming.

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Once again I have tried a new author/series! This is almost always fun, I've had a couple I'm not going to recommend, but for the most part,it's been grand. This time it is Earl Grey and Shallow Graves, the first in the Waterwheel Cafe Mystery series by Victoria Tate. Keya Varma is excited to be opening her own cafe, with (you guessed it) a waterwheel. It is a marvelous old building and all is going well ... until a 30 year old skeleton of a young girl is discovered. Some progress is made by going through old files, but then a friend is discovered dead at the same site. This will change the investigation. Is there a connection? Not a bad start. Looks like other titles will use the names of tea. :-)

From Canada today: M L (Mary Lou) Longworth is a favorite author for Canadian Reader. She has written the Verlaque and Bonnet detective novels set in Aix-en-Provence. I'm told there are wonderful twists and turns to the plot! Canadian Reader loves the description of the area and learning of the history. You learn a lot about the different levels of French law enforcement, too! The main characters are well written and complex. Start with Death at the Chateau Bremont. I have not read this author as yet, but she is on my list!

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I often start with information at the back of a book ... information about the story line, historical notes, something about the author ... and that's where I learned that Ellie Webster is actually a shared pen name for a group of writers! The Peanut Butter Twist is the first of the Tails of Maple Ridge mysteries and was charming and fun to read. Curiously enough, it's also being advertised on my tablet when I play my games which leads to one complaint (a small one). Both those ads, and the front of the book feature a chocolate lab. The dog is named Cocoa. However, in the book is described as a black lab This reader found it a bit jarring and hopes it will be changed before the next printing! Tess has moved to town to bring back a run down book store. She loves doing that! Local baker brings amazing cookies over each morning, including ones with the same title as the book. (Recipe included). When he is found dead, folks of course, wonder why ... and Tess and others decide to figure that out.

From Canada today, it's Lucy Maud Montgomery and the Anne of Avonlea books, possibly more familiar as Anne of Green Gables? There are several books in the series, it was made into a wonderful tv show and folks I've talked with recently seem to know the Green Gables version ... at any rate, when I asked for favorite Canadian authors, Montgomery was on the list from both Wandering Reader and Canadian Reader (which I had less than 20 minutes after I'd sent the question) and mine. :-)

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 Recent events have inspired a detour from my usual postings of books I have read recently. I went back to see what Canadian authors I've used, and asked Canadian Reader for favorites as well. I don't know yet if I will use only these authors, or include one with a new read or what as yet, but it's a small way I can support Canada in these, um, uneasy times.

I'll start with an all time favorite of several decades now: Nothing to Good for a Cowboy, by Richmond P. Hobson, Jr. It is set in the Chilcotin, up in B.C. I was lucky enough to go on a pack trip in the area when I was young. It might have inspired my love for wilderness trail riding!

It looks like I'll be posting a recent read, too! :-) In keeping with the Canadian theme today, this was a recommendation from Canadian Reader. The Merchant's House is the first in the DI Wesley Peterson mystery series by Kate Ellis. I'm told the series just gets better and better. Wesley Peterson has just moved to Tradmouth to start a new job. It starts off with a missing child, and shortly after that the discovery of a body of a young woman. In addition to his police training, Wesley is also an amateur archaeologist and a friend is working on a dig nearby. They discover two bodies as well ... an infant and a young woman. Similar crimes, some 400 years apart, in a story well told. You'll stay up late reading ... :-)

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Some years ago Agatha created a forgery of a popular painting for a class she took. Her teacher liked it so much he kept it (yes, do worry about this). It is part of two painting set that is about to be appraised, which would reveal her work since, she has learned, it has replaced the original. It includes a 'kiss' made with actual lips so her DNA would be determined and she would be sent back to jail. This cannot happen! The original is with her teacher, yes? So all they have to do is swap the paintings. Easy peasy, yes? An Unlikely Heist is book six in The Unlikely Murder Club series by Gina X. Grant.

Some of the mysteries I'm reading recently have focused on a cold case, and West Side Murder (Musical Murder Mystery 2 by K.L. Montgomery is no exception. The death occurred some ten years back, on a local golf course. It was determined to be natural causes, but many there do not agree. It has divided the community and is a topic involved in a battle for control of the community council. Ruby is in town, along with the Melody Street Players, to perform West Side Story at a local theater. Her grandparents live here and so Ruby gets involved. (Yes, it is sort of mirroring the gangs in West Side Story ... which the author does very well ...)

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Here's the first in a promising new series: Hey Diddle Diddle, the Runaway Riddle, by P.C. James, from the One Man and His Dog Cozy Mysteries. Inspector Tom Ramsay has to retire from his job, one he loved, because he was shot. He does not plan on just sitting around! He adopts a border collie and has decided they are going to hike as many trails as possible. On the first outing he comes to the rescue of a young woman fleeing her captors. She was held captive for several days with no mention of a ransom. There is a pushy father (who thinks she needs to get married). (It's the 1950's, that could still have happened then). Naturally Tom has to figure out what is going on, and so the adventure begins!

A Muzzled Murder, the first in the Amelia Hartford Cozy Mystery series by Angie Street starts with a cold case, one from ten years ago. 'Investigated' and determined to be an accident, the still grieving mother says 'no way'. Amelia decides (with some of her new friends) to check things out. They find all kinds of suspicious activities from that time. Why the cover up? In addition to the help of her human friends, Bailey, the dog, helps out, too. :-)

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Here's the first in a new (for me) series: Murder on Friday Street, by Russell Cooper. (Series has the same name). Picture a small town. In England. Where spies (think Cold War this time) have retired. There are the twin brothers (eccentric barely begins to describe them) who would have made horrible field agents, but were the 'intelligence' part of MI6 in that there wasn't a code they couldn't crack. It's their good friend who was murdered, and his daughter who gets them on to solving that, along with a woman who is 'living rough'. (Why?) Great characters, humor, and lots of interesting twists in the plot here, just a great read! Book two is on my shelf. :-)

Some time back now I asked the question "what books do you like to reread?" I never did much with that information but often thought I should, the answers were wonderful!

From Kiwi: Scott Turow, The Laws of Our Fathers. I had read it some years ago just because I like legal thrillers and this is somewhat of a legal thriller, but the first time around, I missed how literary an author Turow can be. Some reviewers have said he is the literary one among the legal thriller group. Second time around, this book was breathtaking in its writing and its plotting and some of the deeply profound philosophy about the 1960s, growing up, friendship, and coming to terms with parents and family.

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How human thinking has changed, thankfully ... from 'just a dumb animal' to creatures we know can think, solve problems ... learn ... and more. Our hardest job is learning to understand them, which is the topic of What Sheep Think About the Weather: How to Listen to What Animals Are Trying to Say, by Amelia Thomas. Well researched (check the notes at the end), the author, not a scientist, but a very curious type, searches out those who are, and have studied various animals, sometimes for decades. Her interviews with them are fascinating and include fish, birds, and even the underground! Seems it too can be noisy with chatter (think worms and grubs). She also includes animal psychics. A bit dense, I'll admit to some skimming, but overall a fascinating read.

National Geographic is a wonderful magazine, and the special issues are no exception. Kiwi kindly shared The Secret Life of Horses: Out of the Wild and Into Our Lives by Eliza McGraw with me. If you are a horse crazy person (I was) there might not be much that will be new here, Kiwi told me, but it is told beautifully with the photographs you'd expect from Nat Geo. It was a worthy read. :-)

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I'll start with a familiar author today ... book five in The Unlikely Murder Club series by Gina X. Grant: An Unlikely Exposure. In an unexpected twist, Agatha, who has always preferred to be as quiet and inconspicuous as possible finds herself not only the subject of JJ Urquhart's next book, but also the movie made from that book. At her insistence the movie will be filmed in Unlikely, giving the small town, reeling from the embezzlement of a former town official, a chance to recover. It's no surprise then, that folks from her past show up again ... well almost no surprise ... one of them is her mother! (Not a spoiler, it's on the back cover). ;-) One videographer has decided that he needs to be filming everything possible so it's also no surprise when he turns up dead . For him, it's more the why, and what did he film? His camera is missing.

An Heir is Misplaced was a rather delightful start to A Duchess of Stortford Mystery series by Helen Golden. It's how a 'proper lady' in the Victorian era would solve a mystery (in her corset, correct language, and of course, popular gossip newspapers. A man had died. His Will is about to be announced. Step son, who has been taking care of him, the estate, and well, everything is hoping to inherit ... however, their is also a legitimate nephew, who has not been seen in decades (family moved to Australia). What happens if he shows up, and then disappears? A short, fun read.

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This is the start of a new series by Diana Xarissa, a Midlife Crisis Mystery. First up is Anxious in Nevada. When Holly Parker turns fifty she decides she needs to start working on her bucket list rather than adding to it. She's always wanted to visit all fifty states and when she finds cheap air fare and hotel costs for Las Vegas, that's where she starts. She's up early the next morning and goes for a walk, where she stumbles over a body. Much to her surprise, it's the man she visited with on the airplane. Also on hand is a woman he once intended to marry (not to mention the one he is with here in Vegas). An interesting start!

When I saw The Sound of Murder I nearly skipped over it as I've read it, yes? Then I looked at the author and it was different! There are TWO mysteries with this title! This one is the first in the Musical Mystery Series by K.L. Montgomery. Both involve a production of The Sound of Music. The main character here is Ruby Ecco. She has a great voice, but, um, the wrong build for any leading role so she is in the chorus. She is out for a morning run when she spots a body under the bridge. It is the actor playing Mother Abbess. Who would kill a nun?? Not convinced the police are doing everything they can or should, she sets out, with another of the actors, Nova, to find the murderer. Some interesting twists here, certainly not ones I would have expected. I promised no spoilers, but do consider something very much different than the musical. ;-)

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Start with the author's notes at the back of Miss Morgan's Book Brigade, by Janet Skeslien Charles, it will give you the perfect background for her book. Well researched and beautifully written, it's also a grim read of the era: World War I, France amid terrible, horrible destruction and how it has affected small towns and the people who lived there. Anne Morgan establishes the American Committee for Devastated France to help these people (mostly women and children) who have lost everything. While they appreciate the food, clothing, medical care (the basics) what they ask for are books! Enter Jessie "Kit" Carson, who is hired to create something never before seen in France ... children's libraries. Leap forward to 1987 and a young writer, working at the NYPL archives comes across a story about these women and decides to write a book. Based on fact (hence the notes at the back) this is a fascinating read of the power of books even, or maybe especially, for those who have so very little. Compelling, maybe a bit overwhelming in parts!

Then, for a lighter read, go for a murder ... a cozy murder! ;-) Ms Mia and Murder at the Spinel Reef Resort is another of the books by Jennifer Branch that take place in a fancy resort (all owned by Ms Mia's family) in a nice location. As Ms Mia is heading from her small cabin in for breakfast she comes across a body, which she reports, only to discover it is missing when they go back to check it out ... what has happened? It's a small island, there is no one, anywhere, alive or dead matching the description. There is a rude and disgruntled young man and his friends there, too, why would they pick basically a resort for old people? Lot's of interesting twists and turns, and a beautiful description of a dive in tropical waters.

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Warning! I read this book in one day: An Unlikely Revelation, book 4 in the Unlikely Murder Club series by Gina X. Grant. To try and get convicted killer/author (who wants to kill Agatha so he can write about her) off her case Agatha fakes her own death. There is a funeral and everything, and then she takes on a new alias (it's not the first time). There is a surprise guest ... someone from her past ... who has recently purchased a failing theater, keeping it from the hands and plans of a greedy developer. The entire town pitches in to help with the renovations, and then Chance, the dog, digs up a skeleton. Clues point towards Martin (but that can't be, can it?). Old crimes and scandals surface this time for another engaging read in this cozy series.

Murder of a Medium is book 15 (!) in the Redmond and Haze Mystery series by Irina Shapiro. The well known psychic Alicia Lysander is killed on her way home from a seance. She seemed in a bit of a rush to leave, did not wait for her usual driver and refused an offer of a ride from the home owner ... why? Redmond and Haze, who worked with her in the past, are determined to find the killer and the reason for the brutal attack. Well written, but remember, these are not cozies!

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Dear Priscilla, by Mark Schweizer, is unlike anything I've read before. While it did have a 'liturgical' theme, like his series, it was also dark, a 'noir comedy thriller' ... ! It was written in the middle of his delightful series so, was it to counter all that humor and fun? Or something else? The cops here were corrupt, on the take, but still tried to put away bad guys, too ... and when one 'bad guy' was contacting them through an advice column, one of the police took over answering the letters to 'Priscilla' ... oh, just read it, give it a chance, I quite enjoyed it! I did finally learn a bit more about the author. He had a PhD in music, and at some point worked for Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Disciples of Christ, and Christian Scientists. He called himself 'ecumenically promiscuous!

Murder in the Reading Room is exactly that ... someone dies (quietly and with no witnesses) in the busy reading room of the British Library. Hannah is there to look up a rare book a customer of her book shop has asked about. She and her aunt Violet learn he had been researching a lost piece of Italian sculpture, one that may or may not be part of a local families collection of art brought back during war times. It could just as easily be a replica. Which is it? Then it was stolen. Or was it? Engaging read, and part of the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mystery series by Anita Davison.

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The cold case file gang has solved every case they've been given. Some folks, back at headquarters are not happy with this, it seems. This time, instead of given several choices of cases, they are handed one. One that has almost no information with it, about it, witnesses, or so on. Have they been set up to fail? It sure feels like it. Then there is the vandalism at Andy's new restaurant. It's not even open yet? Why? Two intriguing cases face Aunt Bessie and her friends in The Snow File, the 19th Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mystery by Diana Xarissa.

It was fun getting back to the Veronica Vale Investigates series by Kitty Kildare. This time a barmaid is found dead, one who was well liked and popular. The police think they have solved the death, that it's an easy solution this time. Veronica does not agree so she takes on the case and looks into it herself. Death at the Fox and Fiddle is the 11th book in this series. Set in the 1920s the feel for the era is wonderful.

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Subjects for my non-fiction reads have been .... curious .... recently and today is no exception. I'll start with an unusual travel guide from Lonely Planet: Toilets of the World: 100 Strange & Spectacular Thrones, Commodes, Loos, & Latrines. Some are functional (re-purposed brass instruments), some are not (on the bottom of the ocean, a row of them). Some are remote (in a desert, or the arctic) some are on busy streets (big cities) or with an interesting design or feature. Spend some time with the photos.

Not sure why undertakers caught my interest but there will be a few books on that subject! Kenneth McKenzie and Todd Harra are the co-authors of two, the first being Over Our Dead Bodies: Undertakers Lift the Lid. It is a collection of funeral stories that are sad, funny, outrageous, unexpected and more. Usually, but not always, there are 'hint's that a service might not be all that quiet so off duty police, in plain clothes are hired to be at the service just in case things go bad. There could be someone from a shelter who specifically plans on attending these services mainly to get a decent meal. A runaway horse drawn hearse. All true and respectfully told here.

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I have several friends who love to garden which is why, I'm sure, The Gardener's Plot, by Deborah J. Benoit caught my eye. :-) Maggie is happy to be back in the Berkshires, where she spent much time as a child. Since she loves gardening she has signed up to help Violet Bloom set up a community garden on a currently vacant lot, but one that once held a business that burned to the ground. There is one very pushy realtor determined to get that lot, and others ... he is the one found dead, in that very vacant lot. On opening day. And Violet is missing, too. Lots of secrets start to surface as Maggie works out what happened. Lots of hints about gardening, too, which even as a non garden type I found interesting. This is the debut novel by Ms. Benoit. She did a great job.

This is the second of a cozy series by Tunio Sahil: Christmas Returns to Marigold Falls (part of the Cozy Mysteries with Humor for Senior Women). Christmas Eve, and the annual parade are coming, and Santa has gone missing. This is most unlike him, so there must be a reason ... there is, one some forty years in the making. Follow along with the Thursday Morning Detective Society as they find him, and solve the mystery. Not a bad little story, but self published, and (remember, my mother was an English teacher) could have used a bit of proof reading.

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It didn't take long for me to pluck the third Unlikely Murder Club book of my shelf. Agatha is looking forward to building the props for the local theater's summer plays. It's just the sort of 'behind the scenes' job she likes. Until the murder, of course. One of her tools was used, but she's not a suspect, instead, she's asked to help find the murderer. As with so many mysteries, it's tied to 'something' in the past, in this case a pirate! There are rumors of a buried treasure and when clues are found relating to that, the search begins in earnest. An Unlikely Drama, by Gina X. Grant was another fun read in this series.

Murder, Mystery, and the Inheritance, by A.P. Wells, is the first in a new series and author for me. Hazel has given up everything to move to the house her uncle left her ... it's clear across the country, after all. However when she arrives she discovers the property is now a crime scene, she is a suspect, and there's a clause in the will that could keep her from inheriting everything. It's a recent clause, added since she's read the will ... she now has 30 days to solve her uncle's murder or everything goes to the local Historical Society. It proves to be a most interesting challenge.

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Despite my mom's best efforts I never caught the travel bug, I am a happy house hermit. I do enjoy hearing/reading of travels, though, and here's the book that caught my eye recently: There's No Toilet Paper ... on the Road Less Traveled: the Best of Travel Humor and Misadventure, collected and edited by Doug Lansky. There are some familiar names here, such as Dave Berry and Bill Bryson, and many I did not recognize, but all were good at humor! From a nudist beach, to eating strange things (think potato bugs), to goat races to much, much more it was a delightful read.

Given the previous title, it didn't take much for me to decide to then read How to Replace an Empty Roll of Toilet Paper: an Instruction Manual, by Nathaniel Erickson. What a hoot! Written in a 'serious' style it tells exactly how to replace this important item on several different types of holders. It also teaches how to put the fancy little triangle you might see on a roll of the stuff in a nice hotel. :-) Charming, silly, and fun.

And, this theme gave me the perfect place for this book! Why are My Nuts in the Toilet Water and Other Questions Older Men Need Answered by Allen F. Mahon. I've done a lot of reading an the aging process in women and decided I should see how 'the other half' does it! ;-) There are similar issues ... things that sag, drop, or fall. Hair in unexpected and unwanted places. Foods that cause, um, reactions they never did in the past. Sounds that emerge when sitting. Standing. Just moving ...! Memory issues and so on. All nicely printed in large type so it's easy for old eyes to read! Hysterical!

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This book has a familiar (sort of) author ... well, co-author. The Vaudeville Murders, the first Libby Seale Mystery is by Miriam & Joseph Zellnik, a brother and sister team of writers. Joseph wrote a recent entry to this post about the off Broadway opening of The Sound of Music. This one too, involves music in a way, and, it's set here, in the Pacific Northwest! (Oregon in the 1890's)! New to the area is Libby Seale who works as a seamstress at Crowther's Portland Variety ... at least until the murder. There's lots of interesting history here ... not all of it nice ... the other person interested in the murder (then another) is newspaperman, Peter Eberle. Together they will form a team. Sort of anyway, to solve the murders. A great start.

Death By the Book is the second in the Mercy McCarthy Mystery series, by Lucy Connelly. There's a literary festival going on, one that is very busy with lots of events. The main attraction, though, is James Brandt, who, face it, is not very nice. He's the one found dead from what looks like a falling bookcase, but folks are not convinced this is what actually happens. Then Mercy's dog sniffs out another body (in an odd location) who is Mr. Brandt's agent. Is there a connection? As the investigation goes on lots old secrets start to emerge involving the mayor, a chef and a botanist. What happened in the past?

Reading Hermit With Dog

 

An interesting combination of the funny and the serious today.

Aging is not for the timid, that's true, but it also helps to be able to laugh at it, too, and you will do so when you read Old But Gold: Laugh-Out-Loud Life Lessons on Aging Gracefully, by Ian Montenegro. We may find technology frustrating at times, but we can also say what we want, and dress the way we want (for comfort, not fashion). It's wise to locate the restrooms whenever we go out, but there are many senior discounts these days. A most enjoyable read! :-)

I finally got around to reading The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Expert Advice for Extreme Situations, by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. It's been around for a while now, and I've thumbed through it before but it just seem fitting, with what is going on these days, to actually read it. There is advice for everything from breaking down a door (indside and outside doors are much different) to delivering a baby. Jumping from a moving car to a hostage situation ... all the things that can happen boggle the mind! Most common first step seemed to be 'remain calm'.

Reading Hermit With Dog