There were several major finds in Egypt in the late 1800's and this book: Murder on the Sea Witch feels like an homage to that. The ship in the title is a freight ship, designed to bring home, in this case precious, cargo. The body of the chief archeologist has been found inside the sarcophagus he was bringing back to London. When it is discovered that his brain has been removed in the fashion of preparing a body for mummification Redmond and Haze believe that should make it easier to find the killer. It does not! Since the ship is designed for cargo, not passengers, those aboard all had something to do with the dig, many have been on several digs, and most know how to remove the brain from a body! Who might have had a grudge against Blake Upton? Another 'keeps you up late reading' mystery, this is the seventh in the Redmond and Haze Mystery series by Irina Shapiro.

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death, by Maxie Dara was a read completely different from what I usually read, even though it was a mystery! It is the second in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. Mystery series. (Any of you remember the show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.?) I have not read the first. Nora Bird works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., she schedules the reapers, those who go out at the death of someone to be sure the soul moves on properly. This goes well until the name of her brother comes across her desk. He is her twin and all the family she has left so she is NOT going to let this happen! They flee to the small town their father is from, and what a strange little town it is! A most curious read, for sure! I take exception to the review on the cover: "funny and warm, delightfully fresh" ... to me is is NOT funny or warm ... there is death, lots of it, paranoia, fear, fright and so on ... it IS however, fresh, in that the point of few is certainly new to this reader! Do note, this is NOT a cozy! There is lots of bad language. It fits with the characters and the story but I wanted to give you a heads up. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog