Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

Oh golly. Not for the faint of heart or squeamish, this one. As much as I love all things McCarthy, dark as they often are, Child of God will not go down as one of my favorites. The writing, of course, kept me glued to the page, and the story did have elements of his later book Sutree, a book I loved, but the scant 200 large-type, short-chapter pages felt more like a Hitchcock or Poe horror story of the kind I read as a teenager at Halloween than anything I would devote energy to absorbing now. As with most McCarthy books I'm sure there is a lot going on under the very weird surface here, but it was all to short and undeveloped for me to find.


(back cover)
Falsely accused of rape, Lester Ballard - a violent, dispossessed man who haunts the hill country of East Tennessee - is released from jail and allowed to roam at will, preying on the population with his strange lusts. His everyday actions are transformed into stunning scenes of the comic and the grotesque. And as the story hurtles toward its unforgettable conclusion, McCarthy depicts the most sordid aspects of life with dignity, humor, and characteristic lyrical brilliance. 

Find Momo by Andrew Knapp

 A picture book for all ages, Find Momo by Andrew Knapp is one of the sweetest I've seen in a long time. The photos are a remarkable collection of everyday urban and rural environments with Momo's little face eagerly looking out from some tiny corner, window, rock. Can you find him? I can't always find him right away, but if I relax my gaze and just take in the picture on the page...


(inside flap)
Thousands of Internet fans play hide-and-seek with Momo the border collie every day, and you can, too. Momo and his best buddy Andrew Knapp have traveled all over - through field, down country roads, across cities, and into yards, neighborhoods, and surreal spaces of all sorts. The result is a book of spectacular photography that's also a game you can play anytime. Lose yourself in page after page of Andrew's beautiful, serene, dreamlike images, and sooner or later you'll find Momo's sweet, eager face looking back at you. (Can't find him? Don't worry...the answers are in the back.)

419 by Will Ferguson

Will Ferguson's 419 is a fascinating look into an email scam coming out of Nigeria. I hadn't realized how wide reaching these correspondences were when I first received one in my inbox a few years ago. A quick read-through informed me that it wasn't anything more than a ham-handed attempt to get a hold of my banking information and part with my money. I deleted it, of course, but not before taking a closer look. The writing sounded so earnest, so sincere, so desperate, that it got me to wondering about its origins and if anyone ever does indeed fall for it. After that I didn't think of it again until this book came out exploring the what-ifs on the victim's side and the complex background of the perpetrator's side. I say 'what-if' because I've never actually heard of anyone falling victim to the scam, but supposing they had . . .

Anyway, it's part fiction and part non-fiction, part murder (suicide?) mystery and part revenge story. And although it brings up some interesting cultural and historical parallels and paradoxes it isn't really much more than a quick weekend read. I found Laura's going solo to Nigeria to exact revenge on a shadowy internet scam cartel exciting but highly improbable. Grief and anger can make people do some pretty foolish things, I suppose, but the ending was a bit of a reach for me.

(back cover)
From internationally bestselling author Will Ferguson comes a novel both epic in its sweep and intimate in its portrayal of human endurance. 
A car tumbles through darkness down a snowy ravine.
A woman without a name walks out of a dust storm in Sub-Saharan Africa.
And the seething heat of Lagos City, a criminal cartel scours the internet looking for victims.
Lives intersect. Worlds collide. And it all began with a single email: "Dear Sir, I am a daughter of a Nigerian diplomat, and I need your help..."
Will Ferguson takes readers deep into the labyrinth of lies that is "419," the world's most insidious internet scam. 
When Laura Curtis, a lonely editor in a cold northern city, discovers that her father has died because of one such swindle, she sets out to track down - and corner - her father's killer. It is a dangerous game she is playing, however, and the stakes are higher than she can ever imagine.
Woven into Laura's journey is a mysterious woman from the African Sahel with scars etched into her skin and a young man who finds himself caught up in a web of violence and deceit. 

Gemini by Carol Cassella

Gemini by Carol Cassella was so surprisingly good, I've added her previous books Oxygen and Healer to my reading list. And by 'surprising' I just mean, how is it that this author is not already on my radar? I enjoy stories of the medical mystery sort, especially when combined with family issues, relationships, and ethics. There's a lot going on in here. The writing put me in mind of Ann Patchett or Barbara Kingsolver; it is clear, well paced and lean, which given Cassella's medical degree and English literature degree, could have been easily overdone. She presents the reader with a compelling story, some interesting medical detail and a beautiful West Coast setting and then steps aside to allow it all to unfold organically. One of the things I very much appreciate and look out for in fiction is this trust between author and reader, reader and author. Gemini is a mature and thoughtful read, highly recommended.

(back cover)
In Seattle, an unidentified and unconscious victim is admitted to Dr. Charlotte Reese's intensive care unit. As Jane Doe's condition worsens, Charlotte finds herself becoming increasingly consumed by her patient's plight, both medical and personal. Who is this woman? Why will no one claim her? Who should decide her fate if she doesn't regain consciousness - and when? Charlotte is forced to confront these issues head on - especially when her boyfriend, Eric, a science journalist, becomes involved. In their In their pursuit of the truth, in their quest for solutions, Charlotte and Eric find their relationship put to the test. It is only when they open their hearts to their own feelings toward each other - and toward life itself - that Charlotte and Eric will unlock Jane Doe's shocking secret. 

Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple ~ DNF

Ehn, I just couldn't do it. First off, it's a book written through letters and emails and messages and whatnot, a style I already have a hard time accepting. Secondly, precocious kids. I don't know, call me curmudgeonly, but I found fourteen year-old Bee to be a tad too *smart* and brash. Kids like this are neither clever nor cute and I certainly don't believe they should be calling the family vacation shots no matter how stellar their report card is. But then I'm of the old-school belief that parenting is a benign dictatorship and not a friendship of equals. Not, at least, until said kids are well on their way to supporting themselves.

Anywhoo, I digress. Perhaps it's a fun and quirky book to read for some, but I wasn't enjoying it enough to keep going.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This book is . . . I can't even . . . what on earth? . . . holy crap.

I haven't been this wowed by a contemporary book since, oh I don't know, ever? It had me absolutely gripped from the opening credits -I listened on audio, all 15 disks- until the very last passage. It was just bad timing that I started it before the holidays when I had to take long breaks to attend to domestic obligations, power outages, ice storms and polar vortexes. I was stranded, I tell you. Stranded. A piece of advice? Clear your calendar for this one. Set in supplies and take the phone off the hook because Gone Girl is unputdownable.

What's it about? It's about a guy looking for his missing wife. It's a psychological thriller. I can't say more or I might give something away. And really, it's best read without expectations or assumptions. There. That's all I'm going to say. Get your hands on a copy to read or listen to before the movie comes out in October. Apparently they've rewritten the ending for the movie...? Hmm. Curious. I thought the ending of the book would be perfectly serviceable on the screen. Whatever. With the cast they've got lined up, I'm sure it will be splendid.

As good as it is, though, I have some questions about what appear to be holes in the plot. Not many. One or two. The overall story is so gripping, so good, that I'm willing to let a couple things go. But still. Anyone else? I don't want to get into specifics here because that would be spoiler-y, but perhaps email to discuss . . .

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

Here's an author I can always count on to take me away to other times in history. In Alice Hoffman's latest book, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, the reader is transported to 1911 Manhattan and the attractions at Coney Island. With all the rapid social and industrial changes in North America, early 1900s is one is one of the most interesting eras to read about. And what Alice Hoffman does so well (as she also did with The Dovekeepers) is to set her narrative to the backdrop of actual places and historical events, in this case the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the Coney Island Dreamland fire, two tragedies that frame the story of Coralie Sardie and Eddie Cohen.

Coralie was born with deformed, webbed hands and has been her father, professor Sardie's, freak show project her entire life. He is the owner and curator of a Coney Island boardwalk attraction called the Museum of Extraordinary Things where he houses and displays various  animal and human curiosities from around the world, many of which are Coralie's only friends. The professor builds a large tank and fashions a 'fishtail' for Coralie's lower body to display her as a mermaid. He also pushes her to practice holding her breath and to swim the icy waters of the Hudson river in all weather, an activity she comes to enjoy for the solitude it affords her. Coralie's life is very much prescribed, exploited and hidden but she gains a sense of the world outside her father's grasp, from books and stories brought in to the museum by the other performers and employees, and from Eddie, the mysterious young photographer she spies on the banks of the Hudson.

Eddie Cohen's narrative alternates with Coralie's beginning with a seemingly unrelated event. He takes photos of the devastation at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory after a fire on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors kills 146 mostly immigrant women and girls, many of them jumping to their deaths on the street below. One of the girls is not accounted for and Eddie believes he might be able to find out what happened, for he too has spied a mystery on the Hudson.

Part history, part murder mystery, part love story, The Museum of Extraordinary Things is all Alice Hoffman. The only issue I have is not so much in the alternating viewpoints (a former peeve of mine that I have come to accept and even appreciate when the writing is good) but in the alternating perspectives between the chapters as well. Some are written in first-person, others in third. I found it a disorienting way to absorb the story. However, the writing is lovely, the characters are well developed and the attention to place and detail is spot-on. Hoffman addresses the harsh realities of life for young people and immigrants, factory workers and circus performers early in the last century. I think fans will recognize and enjoy the human touch Hoffman so often brings to her works of historical fiction.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

I love discovering 'new' authors! Although I've seen Ann Patchett around on bookshelves for a while, I'd never gotten around to actually picking her up until now. I have the print book of State of Wonder but I ended up mostly listening to this on the audio version from the library; the narrator's voice is perfect for the part. I have to say, too, that I appreciate the controversy of the subject matter (isn't there always controversy surrounding the pharmaceutical industry?) and how the author portrays the complexity of adult personal and professional relationships. I'm amazed at how often the books I read purporting to be Women's Fiction only turn out to be more a coming-of-age stories for what I would consider a Young Adult audience. That's okay up to a point; I enjoy the occasional YA story myself. I would just like a little more clarity and distinction between these two genres. The synopses on the back covers aren't always that revealing. So, yes, this book is what I would consider Women's Fiction as the protagonist, Marina, is in her forties dealing with many of the same emotions and life stations we forty-somethings encounter. I enjoyed the book more than I expected, except for perhaps one or two developments at the end that felt forced and slightly unbelievable. But then, I guess, I've never been in a situation like these characters find themselves in so I'm willing to go with it. Walk a mile in their shoes, and all that. If I had to rate it I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Ann Patchett has dazzled readers with her award winning books, including The Magician's Assistant and the New York Times bestselling Bel Canto. Now she raises the bar with State of Wonder, a provocative and ambitious novel set deep in the Amazon jungle. 
Dr. Marina Singh, a research scientist with a Minnesota pharmaceutical company, is sent to Brazil to find her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, who seems to have disappeared in the Amazon while working on an extremely valuable new drug. Nothing about Marina's assignment is easy: not only does no one know where Dr. Swenson is, but the last person sent to find her, Marina's research partner Anders Eckman, died before he could complete his mission. Plagued by trepidation, Marina embarks on an odyssey into the insect-infested jungle in hopes of finding answers.
Dr. Swenson, now in her seventies, is as ruthless and uncompromising as ever. With a combination of science and subterfuge, she dominates her research team and the natives with the force of an imperial ruler. But while she is as threatening as anything the jungle has to offer, the greatest sacrifices are the ones Dr. Swenson asks of herself, and will ultimately ask of Marina, who finds she may still be unable to live up to her teacher's expectations.
In a narrative replete with poison arrows, devouring snakes, and a neighboring tribe of cannibals, State of Wonder is a world unto itself, where unlikely beauty stands beside unimaginable loss. It is a tale that leads the reader into the very heart of darkness, and then shows us what lies on the other side. (back cover)

Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield

Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield is the long awaited book from the the author who gave us the amazingly atmospheric and thoroughly enjoyable The Thirteenth Tale seven years ago. Like Thirteenth Tale, Bellman and Black is about family and memory and coming to terms with the past; the writing, too, is lovely but flows a bit differently than what I had come to expect from her previous book. Although there are some creepy descriptions in keeping with the dark, Victorian setting, there are also long, detailed passages about the workings of textile mills and setting up of retail businesses interspersed with short, almost sketch-like references to many of the characters (except for Seamstress #9 who was quite extensively portrayed.) It all took a bit of getting used to.
There are, however, interesting asides throughout the book about the crow-like rooks, which, along with being the type of bird William killed as a child, also make regular appearances in the background of William's growing up and into his adult life. The rooks are there and they, as well as this mysterious stranger named Black, seem to be watching him as he tries ever harder to keep ahead of the deaths that are happening all around him. His determination to keep his remaining daughter safe and alive starts morphing into a self-destructive obsession with work and business and bargaining, the conclusion of which reminds me of the fable in Harry Chapin's song  Cats in the Cradle.

An okay read, yes, but not quite as solid as I had been hoping.

Caught up in a moment of boyhood competition, William Bellman recklessly aims his slingshot at a rook resting on a branch, killing the bird instantly. It is a small but cruel act, and is soon forgotten. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to have put the whole incident behind him. It was as if he never killed the thing at all. But rooks don't forget…
Years later, when a stranger mysteriously enters William's life his fortunes begin to turn - and the terrible and unforeseen consequences of his past indiscretion take root. In a desperate bid to save the only precious thing he has left, he enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner. Together, they found a decidedly macabre business. And Bellman and Black is born. (back cover)

He felt something move in his chest, as though an organ had been removed and something unfamiliar inserted in its place. A sentiment he had never suspected the existence of bloomed within him. It traveled from his chest along the veins to every limb. It swelled in his head, muffled his ears, stilled his voice and collected in his feet and fingers. Having no word for it, he remained silent, but felt it root, become permanent. pg5

His happiness and his success, that he had taken to be solid things, hewn out of his own effort and talent, had proved as fragile as the seed head of dandilions; all it took was for this unsuspecting competitor to release his breath and the clockhead disappeared. Why, he wondered, had he never known? He, who knew everything? What had kept him in ignorance all these years? pg127

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith JK Rowling

I think it's pretty much common knowledge in the book world by now that Robert Galbraith is actually none other than JK Rowling writing under a pseudonym. After reading and falling in love with her last book, The Casual Vacancy, I was stoked to find out she had another book out under another name. You crafty gal, JK. You crafty gal.

Anyhoo. A Cuckoo's Calling is a fun read. This is her first foray into detective stories and although I found it  a teensy bit cheesy (think Baretta circa 1977) the writing is splendid, the characters interesting, and the story engrossing. I ate it up. Hopefully this will be the beginning of series.

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.
Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man. (back cover)

Inferno by Dan Brown

I have to say I was torn about what to think of this one. I always enjoy the history lessons in these Robert Langdon stories, and the deciphering of ancient symbols, but I found the plot twists somewhat contrived and didn't really appreciate all the endless action/escape/chase sequences as they just slow the progress of the story. I've read all of his books now and don't remember them being quite as formulaic as this one. It could also just be me. I used to read all the Robin Cook books years ago, until I couldn't any more. I think I've hit the wall with Dan Brown now too.

3 out of 5 stars

I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak DNF

As much as I loved The Book Thief with its message of compassion, I just couldn't connect with the characters in I Am The Messenger. The protagonist, Ed Kennedy, is a horny nineteen-year old cab driver who has been 'chosen' by some mysterious . . . what? benefactor? I don't know. But he keeps getting these cryptic notes in the mail written on playing cards that compel him to intervene in other peoples' misfortunes and crises. So he reluctantly participates and sees that even he, a self proclaimed nobody, can be a force for good. Cool. Okay. I like that. It is certainly a noble pursuit we could all practice a little more often. The thing is, though, when it comes to books with a 'message' I think a little bit of subtlety is a good thing, too. About a third of the way through, I just couldn't handle the heavy-handedness of the be-kind-to-your-neighbor story. And what's with all the fantasizing about all the sex our poor protagonist isn't getting? It's a little out of place here. *yawn*. Enough already. We get it. Ed is a frustrated young guy. We don't need to be hit over the head with his sexual daydreams again and again. Subtlety, dear author. Subtlety.

Perhaps it's that I Am The Messenger is classified as Young Adult and I'm just too old and curmudgeonly to appreciate it.

The moon had been observing the the earth close-up longer than anyone. It must have witnessed all of the phenomena occurring - and all the acts carried out - on this earth. But the moon remained silent; it told no stories. All it did was embrace the heavy past with cool, measured detachment. On the moon there was neither air nor wind. Its vacuum was perfect for preserving memories unscathed. No one could unlock the heart of the moon.
~Haruki Murakami, 1Q84

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Wow! I had no idea 1Q84 would be such a cool book. Its size and weird title were both intriguing and off-putting at first, but after finding a copy at a used book store I knew I had to bring it home and give it a try. I started reading the first few pages and found the chapters  flying by on their own as I became more and more obsessed with Tengo and Aomame's story. It's a Matrix-y, Alice-in-Wonderland-y love story with alternate realities, portals, mysterious Little People and a double moon. Murakami's writing is so engrossing and so real, that the fantasy aspect of the story was surprisingly easy to cope with for my non-fantasy tastes. This author's books could be my gateway into a whole new genre!

*spoilers* The story overall is really, really good. I loved the flow and the pacing and those weird little other-worldly surprises. The characters, too, were intriguing. How cool is Aomame? She kicks ass and takes names, looking great in everything from designer suits to yoga pants. And then there's the dowager in her hidden compound with the body guard and gold fish. So Zen! And what does she do with all her wealth? She provides a furnished, secluded shelter on her property for abused women. A worthy and noble undertaking, I'd say. Tengo is a quirky, writer, teacher, loner type of guy with some serious father issues. I love how he manages to resolve this, forgiving his father and staying with him in the old-age home, reading aloud and talking to him even though the old man is in a coma. Fuka-Eri, the seventeen-year old girl with the imaginative story is also a pretty quirky character. She doesn't say much, but she has a presence that's shrouded in imagination and mystery. And then there's Komatsu for a little bit of extroverted relief. Where I imagine most of these characters to be soft-spoken, I imagine Komatsu to be a loud-talker, an irritation for us introverts, but a necessary element to keep us balanced. And then, ugh, Ushikawa. I don't know if it was Murakami's endless descriptions of this character's ugliness or what, but I found book three, when Ushikawa plays a bigger role investigating and spying on our two protagonists, to be rather tedious. I really didn't need to know all about Ushikawa's history and personality for pages and pages at a time. He got on my nerves something fierce and I couldn't have been more relieved when he finally met his demise. Once it became clear that Tengo and Aomame were going to reconnect, I just wanted to get on with the conclusion already.

1Q84 is good in a 4-out-of-5 stars sort of way. I liked it a lot but it could have done with some trimming.

The year is 1984 and the city is Tokyo.
A young woman named Aomame follows a taxi driver's enigmatic suggestions and begins to notice puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She has entered, she realizes, a parallel existence, which she calls 1Q84 - "Q is for 'question mark'. A world that bears a question." Meanwhile, an aspiring writer named Tengo takes on a suspect ghostwriting project. He becomes so wrapped up with the work and its unusual author that, soon, his previously placid life begins to become unravelled. 
A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell's - 1Q84 is Haruki Murakami's most ambitious undertaking yet: an instant best seller in his native Japan, and a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers. (back cover)

The Devil in The White City by Erik Larson

Oh man, CREEPY! And interesting. I listened to this as an audiobook while out on my early morning walks . . . in the misty dawn . . . with leaves crunching under foot . . . bare trees . . . the moon.

Okay, so. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is actually two parallel stories: One being the building of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in the 1890s, an endeavour of truly astronomical proportions. The other being that of serial killer Dr. Henry H. Holmes who preyed on trusting young travellers (mostly women) coming to Chicago for the fair. He built a nearby 'hotel' with businesses on the ground floor and rooms above as a façade for what can only be referred to as a house of horrors.

Normally I don't go for cheesy, gross-out movies like 'Hostel', but this, as a non-fiction book with some context, intrigue and insight, is a vastly more interesting story. It has a solid creep factor without all the gory in-your-face details. My imagination takes care of that just fine, thanks. Word on the street is that Leonardo diCaprio just bought the movie rights . . . Hmm, we'll see where he goes with this one.

Happy Halloween!


















image source

The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Lame 'review' ahead . . .

What can I say? I just love these books. By 'these' I mean the two previous ones in this trilogy The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game both and now this third one The Prisoner of Heaven. the cool thing is they are so intertwined that you don't even really need to read them in order. This one, again, takes us to Barcelona in the 1950s centered on the bookstore of Sempere and Son with Daniel, his father and his wife Bea, his friend Fermin, and a whole host of other characters readers of his previous books will recognize including the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. I'm sorry I don't have any quotes for this one but I listened to it as an audiobook, which in hindsight probably wasn't the best thing to do, especially since my audiobook listening happens right after I wake up at 5:30am.  I don't have the level of detail retention needed for solving mysteries, murders and crimes, and without having actual pages to reread I'm afraid I missed out on some of the twists. It still makes for a very cool and atmospheric story, though. Just don't hold me to the finer details. I'd never make it as a detective, that's for sure.

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

Oh brother. I had problems with this story.

I'll tell you what I did like, though. There was a high level of tension and suspense from page one which had me reading and reading until the wee hours and hardly able to go to sleep myself. I love that, for the most part. The problem with this level of tension, though, is it better resolve in a timely manner and it better resolve in a satisfactory way or I'm going to be pissed. It's a case of The-higher-you-climb-the-harder-you-fall, ya know? I'm a tough audience, but whatever.

I do like a good psychological thriller of the Shutter Island kind, so I kept looking for clues and rereading passages hoping for that ah-ha moment. But when it finally came *spoilers* it was just too, WTF? That can't possibly have happened! Where were this woman's extended family? Parent's? Siblings? Cousins? Anybody who would have had some interest in her long term well being. I could (kind of) understand the hub wanting to take a break, but to TOTALLY ABANDON your brain damaged wife and mother of your son to an institution seems kind of low. Regardless of the affair she had been having, she's still your wife and you still love her so . . . you go to Italy? And the grown son decides it's best if he stops visiting his institutionalized mother too? For her own good 'because it upsets her too much'? No. I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. If it wasn't going to be either her sorry husband or son who cared enough, somebody out there needed to be informed that she was being released from the institution into the care of an abusive nutcase CLAIMING to be her 'husband'. And don't give me the 'high-staff-turnover-at-the-hospital' excuse for letting this happen. Details, you see. Details. I like them to be plausible.

Also, the tension. It went on too long. Unlike Shutter Island and A Beautiful Mind, which you think is one story and then it turns out to be another, a psychological turn of events that tickles my neurons in just the right way, Before I Go To Sleep lets you know that something is not right as soon as you start reading and then keeps ramping up the uh-oh factor. It's exciting at first but gets exhausting by the halfway point. It's an okay book that would have read better as a short story, I think.

3/5 stars

Monday Reading Notes

I had this idea that I would buckle down and do some serious TBR reading over the summer starting, like, yesterday. I have a fantastic little library full of great titles picked up at book sales over the past year that are all calling out to me AND I CAN'T DECIDE which one to get busy with next. I even pulled out a little mini pile of Really-Want-To-Read-Next titles so that I'm not distracted by ALL THE REST OF THEM. But! I paused too long to start a new one and, now, to make matters more complicated, my bargain book sale compulsion recently led me to acquire a thing like . . . 

 

which, obvs, must be read RIGHT NOW because the cover is delightfully, intriguingly trashy and the inside jacket has this for a teaser: Mary remains true only to the three rules she learned on the streets of [1760s] London: Never give up your liberty. Clothes make the woman. Clothes are the greatest lie ever told. I made the mistake of reading the prologue and first couple of pages rather than putting it directly on the bottom of my TBR pile for later - and now I'm hopelessly hooked. I was so sure I was ready for something a little more modern after being immersed in The Serpent's Tale, but no. Fictional or non, the lure of books about gutsy historical women is just too great. 

The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin

Another fun (albeit sometimes gruesome) historical, fictional mystery set in medieval England. I listened to this on audio just as I did with the fist book in this series The Mistress of the Art of Death. I was glad to see the same characters here teamed up again to investigate the poisoning of King Henry's favorite mistress Rosamond Clifford. But this story was a little heavier on the politics of the time than Mistress was, which for me isn't as enjoyable. I much prefer to hear about the details of every-day life in the twelfth century than I do about military alliances and whatnot. It was more interesting, instead, to follow Adelia's analytical thinking and common-sense as she used the tools at hand to solve the murders without giving herself away as a doctor, a punishable crime for a woman in her day. That alone makes a great story! Grave Goods is the next book in the series and I'll probably be throwing that on my iPod sometime soon to finish off the trilogy.

In twelfth-century England, Only one woman is trained to uncover the secrets of the dead. The mistress of King Henry II has been poisoned -  and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the king's estranged wife, is the prime suspect. The king must once again summon Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, to uncover the truth. But more is at stake than just the identity of a killer: civil war threatens to ravage an already war-sick England. Joining forces with her former lover Rowly Picot, Adelia investigates the death as more savage killings ensue. Isolated and trapped by snow and cold, Adelia works feverishly to save innocents and protect the peace. (back cover)

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

Not very Christmassy I know, but I've had this audiobook on my iPod for a month and I only just got to finishing it now. It's good, though! It's the antidote to all the treacly goings-on of the season. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story of Adelia and her cohorts, Simon and Mansur, as they travel to Cambridge from Salerno by order of King Henry II to solve the mystery of four murdered children. Being a woman in the 1170s, her medical and forensic skills are not openly recognized so she must find ways to hide her activities lest she be deemed a witch. What a feisty, intelligent character she is, a feminist before her time. She's independent and speaks her mind and I liked her immediately, along with Gyltha the cook and Prior Geoffrey. Its a mesmerizing story with enough detail and historical drama to make it an interesting and engaging read (or in my case, 'listen') I have book two, Serpent Tales, already on my TBR shelf for the new year, and, if that goes well, I hear there are one or two more books in the series for me to investigate after that. We'll see.