The story of a ....

So the morning before, we were awakened by a phone call at 3:30am. Private caller, no one there.

This morning I woke at 5am hearing Tug scurrying under the table (as much as an 140 pound dog can do so). I told him to lay down. He did but was up again. This goes on for about 20 minutes. In one of the silences of Tug holding still, I hear *little* scurry noises. I did not scream; I did "yip". Yes, we had a mouse. I turned on the light which woke up Steve and there was this furry thing running around under the table. I kinda felt a little sorry for it (I'm sure having a big dog chasing him was not fun and very scary) but there was an icky mouse in my house! I did not jump up on a chair but I do believe this type of responsibility falls under Steve's household jurisdiction. This was all carefully spelled out prior to marriage. So between Steve with a broom and Tug acting like a cat going after a meal ... well they finally got it out the french door but I think it died not long after. No sleeping after that.

Which was mostly okay because I'd gone to bed waaaaaay early. I've got a cold of some sort. Now I'm feeling a little sore throat. Bother.

Back to the mouse for a moment: I wonder how long it's been inside? Steve has been leaving Tug inside during the day so I picture mad chases through the house while we're gone at work and calm peacefulness and furniture back in place by the time we get home.

Good news today: I do have my new lenses for my glasses now. I zipped over to the optician's at lunch so now I can see again. I have a little adjusting to do because of the day in the old prescription.

Tonight I have America's Next Top Model to watch and Erik will come over to watch The Pacific so I have to stay up at least until 9pm (isn't that sad? But I think getting lots of sleep will help fight this cold thing). I hope to do a little reading. As much as I like Louise Penny, I'm kinda being drawn toward JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough. My two ultimate favorite time periods are the Tudor era and the American Revolution. Yes, I saw the mini-series which was very good but I'm sure there's many details that could not be conveyed.

Tomorrow ... the April book onslaught begins. Ariana Franklin's book is supposed to be released. B&N BETTER have it. I'll stop by either at lunch or after work. On Friday, I get to get a new cell phone. YAY!! I think a Blackberry is calling me.

Have a lovely evening.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

My security blanket is books, lots of books...

Worked the whole day; feeling better but not best and I may have overdone it with the walk with Tug so maybe I'm fighting an bigger illness than I suspected. So I've taken a soak, going to read for a wee bit and go to bed early. Taping the re-start of "V" tonight.

See you on the 'morrow.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Mondays can be difficult

I'm currently reading THE CRUELEST MONTH by Louise Penny. This is 3rd of 5 in series featuring Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec, in the village of Three Pines, in southern Quebec, Canada. Here is a description:

Chief Insp. Armand Gamache and his team investigate another bizarre crime in the tiny Québec village of Three Pines. As the townspeople gather in the abandoned and perhaps haunted Hadley house for a séance with a visiting psychic, Madeleine Favreau collapses, apparently dead of fright. No one has a harsh word to say about Madeleine, but Gamache knows there's more to the case than meets the eye. Complicating his inquiry are the repercussions of Gamache having accused his popular superior at the Sûreté du Québec of heinous crimes in a previous case. Fearing there might be a mole on his team, Gamache works not only to solve the murder but to clear his name.

It was published in 2007 and has 320 pages -- I'm reading it on the Kindle.

I left work mid-morning today. Last night I was hit with some kind of illness. I was better this morning but definitely not 100% and decided that I wasn't going to fight it anymore so went home and went to bed. Walked Tug for a short bit in the afternoon and then back to bed. I don't know what it is -- some kind of weird dizziness leading to some nausea and some headachy. Bah. A co-worker mentioned maybe it's an inner-ear infection or something affecting equilibrium. I dunno. I comes and goes in waves.

Well, I didn't miss work at all. There is still an ickiness going on with some co-workers; stupid office politics/high school cliques. I'm taking the high road and being professional and that's all I can do.

It was very nice during the day but now I think I storm front is moving in . Yippee! Though why can't this happen on weekends, hmmm?

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Alphabet in Historical Crime Fiction - T

~ T ~

The authors listed here are a reflection of my taste and interest. For a more comprehensive listing, check out www.crimethrutime.com.

Shirley Tallman
Sarah Woolson, an attorney in 19th-century San Francisco

• The Murder on Nob Hill (2004)


• The Russian Hill Murders (2005)


• The Cliff House Strangler (2007)


• Scandal on Rincon Hill (2010)

Will Thomas

Cyrus Barker, a Scottish private enquiry agent, and his assistant, Welshman Thomas Llewelyn, in late 19th century London

• Some Danger Involved (2004) Finalist 2005 Barry Award for Best First Novel, Finalist 2005 Shamus Award for Best First Novel [r]


• To Kingdom Come (2005) [r]


• The Limehouse Text (2006) [r]


• The Hellfire Conspiracy (2007) [r]


• The Black Hand (2008) Finalist 2009 Shamus Award for Best Paperback [r]

Victoria Thompson
Sarah Brandt, a midwife in turn-of-the-19th-century New York City

• Murder on Astor Place (1999)


• Murder on St. Mark’s Place (2000) Finalist 2001 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original


• Murder on Gramercy Park (2001)


• Murder on Washington Square (2002)


• Murder on Mulberry Bend (2003)


• Murder on Marble Row (2004)


• Murder on Lenox Hill (2005)


• Murder in Little Italy (2006)


• Murder in Chinatown (2007)


• Murder on Bank Street (2008)


• Murder on Waverly Place (2009)


• Murder on Lexington Avenue (June 2010)

Charles Todd
Ian Rutledge, a shell-shocked World War I veteran returning to his job at Scotland Yard, in London

• A Test of Wills (1996) 1997 Barry Award for Best First Novel, Finalist 1997 New Blood Dagger Award, Finalist 1997 Anthony Award for Best First Novel, Finalist 1997 Edgar Award for Best First Novel, Finalist 1997 Dilys Award


• Wings of Fire (1998) Finalist 1999 Historical Dagger Award, Finalist 1999 Dilys Award


• Search the Dark (1999)


• Legacy of the Dead (2000) Finalist 2001 Anthony Award for Best Mystery


• Watchers of Time (2001)


• A Fearsome Doubt (2002)


• A Cold Treachery (2005)


• A Long Shadow (2006)


• A False Mirror (2007)


• A Pale Horse (2007)


• A Matter of Justice (2008)


• The Red Door (2009)

Bess Crawford, a British army nurse in WWI

• A Duty to the Dead (2009) [r]

Marilyn Todd

Claudia Seferius, a vineyard owner in 1st century Rome

• I, Claudia (1995)


• Virgin Territory (1996)


• Man Eater (1997)


• Wolf Whistle (1998)


• Jail Bait (1999)


• Black Salamander (2000)


• Dream Boat (2002)


• Dark Horse (2002)


• Second Act (2003)


• Widow’s Pique (2004)


• Stone Cold (2005)


• Sour Grapes (2005)


• Scorpion Rising (2006)
  
  Iliona, a high priestess blackmailed into spying for Sparta, in 5th century BCE Greece


• Blind Eye (2007)


• Blood Moon (2009)


• Still Waters (2010)

Leonard Tourney
Matthew Stock, town constable and clothier in Elizabethan Chelmsford, England

• The Players’ Boy Is Dead (1980)


• Low Treason (1983)


• Familiar Spirits (1985)


• The Bartholomew Fair Murders (1986)


• Old Saxon Blood (1988)


• Knaves Templar (1991)


• Witness of Bones (1992)


• Frobisher’s Savage (1994)

Peter Tremayne
Sister Fidelma, a 7th century Celtic sister and legal advocate in Kildare, Ireland

• Absolution by Murder (1994) [r]


• Shroud for the Archbishop (1995) [r]


• Suffer Little Children (1995)


• The Subtle Serpent (1996)


• Spider’s Web (1997)


• Valley of the Shadow (1998)


• The Monk Who Vanished (1999)


• Act of Mercy (1999)


• Our Lady of Darkness (2000)


• Hemlock at Vespers (2000) [SS]


• Smoke in the Wind (2001)


• The Haunted Abbot (2002)


• Badger’s Moon (2003)


• Whispers of the Dead (2004) [SS]


• The Leper’s Bell (2005)


• Master of Souls (2005)


• A Prayer for the Damned (2006)


• Dancing with Demons (2007)


• The Council of the Cursed (2008)


• The Dove of Death (2009)


• Chalice of Blood (2010)

[r] = I've read it

Sadly, it is not dark and rainy today which would have been perfect for hours of reading. (sigh) One will just have to make do, I suppose.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Icky romance stuff -- I can't look

My reading got side-tracked by a romance novel called PASSION by Lisa Valdez. There was a big hullabaloo that she is finally coming out with a sequel to this book after six years or something so I was curious. I read a TON of romance books between 5th and 7th grade. Yes, the gothic romances and yes, I was a bit precocious in my reading and no, my mom wouldn't have let me read them if she'd known. In 7th grade I discovered DUNE by Frank Herbert and I was off to the races in SFF but that's another story. About five-six years ago I was working on an MBA with the goal of starting a bookstore. My store was going to be called Crime and Passion Books and would only carry the two top-selling genre books - mysteries and romance. So I needed to get back into knowledge at least of the romance authors so I started paying more attention to that genre and dabbled every now and then. I've always read Nora Roberts along the way but didn't know much of other contemporary authors. So on occasion, I read a romance.

Back to the story. I downloaded the sample of PASSION onto my Kindle to see what the hubbub was about. Romance novels run the gamut in terms of sex scenes from mild to pornographic. THIS was verging on pornographic. First of all, the female character is named "Passion", hence the title, and get your mind out of the gutter people, she's the daughter of a vicar in Regency England and was named after Passion Sunday because she was born on it. Ahem. Yeah, I don't think anyone could get by even in this day and age with a name like that without sniggering but that's beside the point. And his name is Mark. Just Mark, but he's an Earl, of course.

So having caught my attention with the porn-, I mean, love scene I had to read the whole book because it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion or slowing down to rubberneck at an accident scene. I had to see how bad it really was. If this book were a drinking game, one would be totally blotto'd very quickly in the frequency of descriptions. "vanilla and orange blossom smelling hair" (her) and the smell of "lemon-verbena" (him). And she licked her lips A LOT. And he, of course, was HUGE and we had to be told ALL THE TIME. And they did it ALL THE TIME. And it was the tried and true story of discovering they lurv each other but they couldn't be together and they each had to suffer because of duty but true lurv conquors in the end and having a baby is a sign that they're sexually compatible and they'll live happily ever after even though they live in Regency times and are behaving like a contemporary family. And Mark had to learn to love and trust the love of a woman because mommy is a bitch who cheated on his father and Passion had to learn to let go of her inhibitions (he's huge remember) and let go of duty because she'd been in a loveless marriage and the sex was really bad with her husband who's now dead.

Again, I enjoyed it in that "OMG, really?" kind of way. The sequel that the romance world is worked up about is called PATIENCE. Yes, Passion has a sister.

Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster

Should I read and then nap or nap and then read? Hmmmm...

Friday at last. Personality conflicts/clashes at work have made it not fun this week. I think I may contemplate cubicle decorations this weekend to cheer me up. Our little group decided to name our cubicles (yeah we were silly but we're all working overtime and goofy tired) and, of course, mine has been dubbed "The Library." I *do* have some mysteries in my shelves -- having books to look at makes me feel better about my surroundings. There's some art at www.art.com that would help, I think.

I'm making taco salad for dinner; going to watch Spartacus. Plan to do not much other than read this weekend for some rejuvenation. Wish it were a rainy weekend.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Word of the Day Thursday: Smart

Better get the flashlights

Sorry, a zombie joke for my husband and his obsession with flashlights. I once asked him why we had to have so many flashlights; he said "Because of the zombies." I think it's a guy thing and it only makes sense to them. Maybe like having many pairs of black pants only make sense to women.

Mid-week. I'm glad for my job and the things I do in it but sometimes you just wish it were Friday sooner. But for a fun thing once a quarter, work has a lunch thing and a group provides the main food and others bring in extras. The "theme" of today was deli so we had sandwiches and salads and dips. I must be a "spicy" wimp or lack the right taste buds. For some reason, I don't taste *flavor* in spicy things just the sting so I don't really appreciate the spicy stuff the same way other people do. I'm guessing. There were a couple spicy dips that I could appreciate in the description but only experienced the heat -- and I know there are way more spicy things than what I had - I've watched Food Network and The Travel Channel. :) I think it's similar to being left handed or mathmatical. You either have it or you don't ever comprehend.

Hey, it didn't rain this evening when I walked Tug. That's a positive. I watched both Survivor (a day early because of icky basketball) and America's Next Top Model (because I like to see skinny size 0 girls being criticized) at the same time tonight though I taped Survivor for Steve. He was at shooting but just got home way early because fewer guys showed up tonight and they packed up early. Weird to have him here this soon on a Wednesday night. Is it a blue moon?

I don't have much time to reading tonight unless I wrap this up quickly as well. I'm still enjoying HERESY and would like to spend more time with it -- I got no reading done today at all. This is no good.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Going to have to give up sleep again...

My reading this month has been pitiful but I expect it to pick up in April. It has to. There's nine new releases I'm very interested in. Nine. Typically, the average is about two maybe three per month. NINE. In April alone.

A MURDEROUS PROCESSION - Arianna Franklin, April 1

4th of 4 in series featuring Adelia (Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar of Salerno), a “doctor for the dead” working for King Henry II in 12th century England

SHADOWS IN THE STREET - Susan Hill, April 1 (UK)

5th of 5 in series featuring Simon Serrailler, a police Chief Inspector in Lafferton, England

ONE WAS A SOLDIER - Julia Spencer-Fleming, April 13

7th 0f 7 in series featuring Clare Fergusson, a newly-ordained Episcopal priest, and Russ Van Alystyne, Chief of Police, in Millers Kill, New York

THE HERETIC'S WIFE - Brenda Rickman Vantrease, April 13

historical novel set during Tudor England, my favorite period

THIS BODY OF DEATH - Elizabeth George, April 20

16th of 16 in series featuring Thomas Lynley, a Scotland Yard inspector and eighth Earl of Asherton, Sergeant Barbara Havers, in London

THE GOD OF THE HIVE - Laurie R King, April 27

10th of 10 in series featuring Mary Russell, student and then wife of Sherlock Holmes (my one exception to not liking Sherlock Holmes) [blasemphy, I know]

SAVOR THE MOMENT - Nora Roberts, April 27

3rd in the Brides Quartet

SHOOT TO THRILL - P.J. Tracy, April 29

5th of 5 in series featuring Grace MacBride, founder of Monkeewrench, a game software company, in Minneapolis

REVENGER - Rory Clements, April 29 (UK)

2nd of 2 in series featuring John Shakespeare, elder brother of playwright William Shakespeare and investigator for Queen Elizabeth I, England 1580s-1590s

A plethora of good reading. A cornucopia of stories. My cup runneth over next month. However am I going to find time to read it all as quickly as I want to? Good thing I'm working overtime, eh? Forget about paying bills, I need to plan for April 2010 books. Isn't life grand?

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Some Mondays can be more difficult than others...

I'm currently reading a new historical crime novel that has real potential to be a good series if it continues. I have cautious excitement about it right now. It's HERESY by S.J. Parris. It is 1st of one in (hopeful) series featuring Giordano Bruno, monk, poet, scientist and magicianon the run from the Roman Inquisition, acting as an agent for Queen Elizabeth I, Oxford, England 16th century. Here is a description:

Set in 1583 against a backdrop of religious-political intrigue and barbaric judicial reprisals, Giordano Bruno is a former Italian monk excommunicated by the Roman Catholic church and hunted across Europe by the Inquisition for his belief in a heliocentric infinite universe. Befriended by the charismatic English courtier and soldier Sir Philip Sidney, the ambitious Bruno flees to more tolerant Protestant England, where Elizabeth I's secretary of state, Sir Francis Walsingham, recruits him to spy, under the cover of philosophical disputation, on secretly Catholic Oxford scholars suspected of plotting treason. As one Oxford fellow after another falls to gruesome homicide, Bruno struggles to unravel Oxford's tangled loyalties.

It was published last month and has 488 pages. I'm reading it on the Kindle. If you like CJ Sansom, you may enjoy this one.

Work was being a Monday but at least we had some people back to help cover the phones. Walked Tug after work and got hailed on -- less than pea sized but hail and wet nonetheless. Now I'm ignoring the news, cleaning up emails and I'll go read in bed for a bit.

Sleep tight, everyone...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Alphabet in Historical Crime Fiction - S

~ S ~

These authors reflect my personal taste and interests. For a complete listing, go to www.crimethrutime.com.

C.J. Sansom
Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer in mid-16th century England

• Dissolution (2003) Finalist 2003 New Blood & Historical Dagger Awards [r]


• Dark Fire (2004) 2005 Historical Dagger Award [r]


• Sovereign (2006) Finalist 2007 Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel, Finalist 2007 Gold Dagger Award, Finalist 2006 Historical Dagger Award [r]


• Revelation (2008) Finalist 2008 Historical Dagger Award [r]


• Heartstone (August 2010)

Steven Saylor

Gordianus the Finder, a private investigator in the 1st century BCE in Rome

• Roman Blood (1991) Finalist 1992 Macavity Award for Best First Novel


• Arms of Nemesis (1992)


• Catilina’s Riddle (1993) Finalist 1994 Dilys Award, Finalist 1993 Hammett Prize


• The Venus Throw (1995)


• A Murder on the Appian Way (1996)


• The House of the Vestals (1997)


• Rubicon (1999)


• Last Seen in Massilia (2000) Finalist 2001 Historical Dagger Award


• A Mist of Prophecies (2002)


• The Judgment of Caesar (2004) Finalist 2004 Historical Dagger Award


• A Gladiator Dies Only Once (2005)


• The Triumph of Caesar (2008)

Kate Sedley

Roger the Chapman, a medieval chapman (peddler) in England

• Death and the Chapman (1991) [r]


• The Plymouth Cloak (1992) [r]


• The Hanged Man (1993) [r]


• The Holy Innocents (1994) [r]


• The Eve of St. Hyacinth (1996) [r]


• The Wicked Winter (1996)


• The Brothers of Glastonbury (1997)


• The Weaver’s Inheritance (1998)


• The Saint John’s Fern (1999)


• The Goldsmith’s Daughter (2001)


• The Lammas Feast (2002)


• Nine Men Dancing (2003)


• The Midsummer Rose (2004)


• The Burgundian’s Tale (2005)


• Prodigal Son (2006)


• The Three Kings of Cologne (2007)


• The Green Man (2008)


• The Dance of Death (2009)

Kelli Stanley

Arcturus, the Roman governor’s doctor and investigator, in 83 AD Londinium, Britain

• Nox Dormienda (A Long Night for Sleeping) (2008) 2009 Bruce Alexander Award, Finalist 2009 Macavity Award for Best Historical Novel


• Maledictus (Cursed)

Rosemary Stevens

Beau Brummell, the arbiter of fashion in the Regency era

• Death on a Silver Tray (2000) 2000 Agatha Award for Best First Novel


• The Tainted Snuff Box (2001)


• The Bloodied Cravat (2002)


• Murder in the Pleasure Gardens (2003)

Diane A.S. Stuckart
Dino (Delfina in disguise as a boy), an apprentice to Leonardo da Vinci, court engineer to the Duke of Milan in 1480s Milan, Italy

• The Queen’s Gambit (2008)


• Portrait of a Lady (2009)


• A Bolt from the Blue (2010)

[r] = I've read it

I'll be catching up on emails today and auditioning my next read. I won't be seeing Steve for a while -- I heard him playing computer game until the wee hours of the morning. Otherwise, I'll be finishing laundry and vacuuming and walking Tug. Tonight, we have episode 2 of The Pacific to watch.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Saturday's all right

Typical Saturday: got groceries, walked Tug, Steve is at a shooting class, I've got laundry going and will vacuum. Hope to do some reading. Same old same old.

Have a lovely Saturday...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Oh thank goodness it's Friday

Ah, at last, Friday evening. A very rough week with people gone so work load bigger. It is past and good riddance.

We'll be watching Spartacus soon. and I just have time to do this blog quickly.

I had a what-the-heck moment with Tug walking him after work. We had started out and gone around the corner and turn another corner onto a street when Steve drove by. Tug always chases the truck so they took off back around the corner and out of my sight as I headed back toward the house. Tug comes walking back around the corner toward me like he decided to finish the walk. He's NEVER done that before. Steve said he stopped in the middle of the street and turned around. So we finished the walk. Weird.

Hope your evenings are lovely...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Performance art: slow motion falling down tired

Pretty tired tonight. A trying day at work but the good news is that tomorrow is Friday. Yay.

St. Patrick's Day - my favorite-est holiday of them all -- has come and gone. I didn't buy anything from QVC this year. If there had been another version of the Beleek lamp I have I would have snapped it up but no such thing.

Erik came over last night to watch the reshowing of the first episode of The Pacific. Upon second viewing for me, I connected a little more with the characters. Liking it.

No Survivor tonight so I'm cleaning out emails and will soak in the shower, read for a wee bit (still on the Michael Jecks, not making big progress) but then go to bed early-ish so I can take on tomorrow renewed and refreshed. Roar!

Until then .... Zzzzzzzz ....

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

wordless Wednesday

No really, don't look at the light

I had an eye appointment this afternoon. You know when they dialate your eyes? And you step out of the store that faces west? And you left your sunglasses in the car? Yeah, bright light. Of course the worst I ever did with dialated eyes was have an appointment in winter on a sunny day with snow allllll over and no sunglasses at all. Now that hurt.

So then I had to get jeans. The store I normally go to didn't have dark enough ones for work so I thought I'd go cheap and stop at Shopko. Yes, found some cheap ones. Also found a decent winter parka that used to be $110 and I got it for .... wait for it .... $21.99. Yeah, work the sales, baby. Also tells you how much they mark up the product.

So, 'twas busy at work today. Rushed around after work. Just finished dinner. It's almost 8pm, I'm deleting unwanted emails, doing the blog, then heading to bed to read for a little bit.

Have a lovely evening...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Monday's are sometimes too complicated

I'm currently reading THE CREDITON KILLINGS by Michael Jecks. This is 4th of 28 in series featuring Simon Puttock, medieval West County bailiff, and Sir Baldwin Furnshill, ex-Templar Knight, in Devon, England. (you see why I must get back to reading this series with that many to go). Here is a description:

The arrival of the eminent Bishop of Exeter to the small Devonshire town of Crediton—coupled with the unwanted appearance of a particularly unsavory band of mercenary soldiers—has made life exceedingly difficult for Simon Puttock, bailiff of Lydford, and ex-Knight Templar Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace. But it is the grim discovery of the body of a young girl hidden in a chest that unleashes a village-wide plague of fear and suspicion. Stemming the chaos may be beyond the powers of two dedicated upholders of the law. For the Crediton killings have only just begun—and each murder to follow threatens to be more heinous and baffling than the one before.

It was published in 1997 and has 400 pages.

I don't know why the spring forward one hour always takes longer to adapt than the spring back in fall. Or why one hour really feels like five. Well, I didn't sleep well last night -- kept waking up every 90 minutes-ish checking the time.

We watched the first episode of The Pacific last night. Same good production values as Band of Brothers but somehow -- at first viewing -- there is not the connection with the characters. We'll definitely be watching all ten episodes but I hope it gets better.

Book meme:

Do you seek out interviews with authors of books you've enjoyed? Why or why not?
When I seek out information about an author it is more often when I'm first learning about them via whatever source. A title or a new-t0-me author will catch my attention (hey, this is new!) and then I'll check out their website if it's available mostly for an excerpt of the book to see if the voice appeals to me. I'm not really interested in their biographies. As regard to interviews, I am more likely to read a blog than an interview. Interviews are pre-packaged by a third party. If I'm interested in an author's thoughts, I read the blog.

Do you interview authors on your blog? If yes what did you gain from the interview process? If no is it because you don't want to or because you haven't felt able to ask an author yet?

No. They are busy writing and I'm busy reading. If I'm liking what they write, I want them to keep writing and produce more for me to read. I'm not bugging them with questions they've been asked a gabillion times before. Write, author, write! (sound of a whip cracking)

Do you subscribe to the blogs of authors you like? Which ones? All the authors you like or only certain ones?

Subscribe as in check in periodically? Yes. Usually the group ones are easier for some reason. Murderati.com is a daily. Criminal Minds, Lipstick Chronicles, JungleRedWriters, Lady Killers, Kill Zone, The Stiletto Gang, Poe's Deadly Daughters, etc. There are author blogs that I avoid because I dislike one of the authors. Sad that. There are blogs I also read that are reader-oriented rather than author based.

Do you track down author websites or look for biographical information about them elsewhere?

Yes, see previous answer. I'll seek information via amazon.com, stopyou'rekillingme.com. But again, I don't care about their biographies. Why? What has their past have to do with how they tell a story? If they've some background in the area they write, okay, but it still doesn't really have to do with how they write, just that they maybe don't have to do as much research as the next guy.

Would you skip reading a book if you couldn't find out anything about its author?

I may skip it if I can't find some form of excerpt. I have to have a flavor of it before I take a step toward "the first date" of procuring it somehow -- library, Kindle, bookstore, etc.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Alphabet in Historical Crime Fiction - R

~ R ~

Deanna Raybourne

Lady Julia Grey, a young widow in 1880s London

• Silent in the Grave (2007) Finalist 2007 Agatha Award for Best First Novel, Finalist 2008 Dilys Award [r]


• Silent in the Sanctuary (2008) [r]


• Silent on the Moor (2009) [r]

Mary Reed and Eric Mayer
John the Eunuch, Lord Chamberlain to the Emperor Justinian in Constantinople in 537

• One for Sorrow (1999)


• Two for Joy (2000)


• Three for a Letter (2001)


• Four for a Boy (2003)


• Five for Silver (2004)


• Six for Gold (2005)


• Seven for a Secret (2008)


• Eight for Eternity (April 2010)

Candace Robb
Dame Margaret Kerr, in 13th century Scotland

• A Trust Betrayed (2000) [r]


• The Fire in the Flint (2003) [r]


• A Cruel Courtship (2004)
  
  

Owen Archer, a medieval spy for the Archbishop, in Wales

• The Apothecary Rose (1993) [r]


• The Lady Chapel (1994) [r]


• The Nun's Tale (1995) [r]


• The King's Bishop (1996) [r]


• The Riddle of St. Leonard’s (1997) [r]


• A Gift of Sanctuary (1998) [r]


• A Spy for the Redeemer (2002) [r]


• The Cross-Legged Knight (2003) [r]


• The Guilt of Innocents (2007)


• A Vigil of Spies (2008)

David Roberts
Lord Edward Corinth, a jaded English aristocrat, and Verity Browne, a leftist journalist, between the wars in 1930s London

• Sweet Poison (2000) [r]


• The Bones of the Buried (2001) [r]


• Hollow Crown (2002) [r]


• Dangerous Sea (2003)


• The More Deceived (2004)


• A Grave Man (2005)


• The Quality of Mercy (2006)


• Something Wicked (2007)


• No More Dying (2009)


• Sweet Sorrow (2009)

John Maddox Roberts
Decius Cecilius Metellus, a would-be playboy son of an illustrious family, Rome 1st century B.C. (during the time of Julius Caesar)

• SPQR I: The King’s Gambit (1990) Finalist 1991 Edgar Award for Best Paperback


• SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy (1991)


• SPQR III: The Sacrilege (1992)


• SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses (1992)


• SPQR V: Saturnalia (1992)


• SPQR VI: Nobody Loves a Centurion (2001)


• SPQR VII: The Tribune’s Curse (2003)


• SPQR VIII: The River God’s Vengeance (2004)


• SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates (2005)


• SPQR X: A Point of Law (2006)


• SPQR XI: Under Vesuvius (2007)


• SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead (2008)


• SPQR XIII: The Year of Confusion (2010)

Lynda S. Robinson
Lord Meren, chief investigator for Pharaoh Tutankhamun in ancient Egypt

• Murder in the Place of Anubis (1994) Finalist 1995 Macavity Award for Best First Novel


• Murder at the God's Gate (1995)


• Murder at the Feast of Rejoicing (1996)


• Eater of Souls (1997)


• Drinker of Blood (1998)


• Slayer of Gods (2001)

Caroline Roe
Isaac, a blind physician, and Bishop Berenguer, in 1350s Girona, Spain

• Remedy for Treason (1998) Finalist 1999 Anthony Award for Best Paperback, Finalist 1999 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel [r]


• Cure for a Charlatan (1999)


• Antidote for Avarice (2000)2000 Barry Award for Best Paperback, Finalist 2000 Anthony Award for Best Paperback


• Solace for a Sinner (2000)


• A Potion for a Widow (2001)


• A Draught for a Dead Man (2002)


• A Poultice for a Healer (2003)


• Consolation for an Exile (2004)

Kate Ross
Julian Kestrel, a dandy-about-town in 1820s London

• Cut to the Quick (1993) [r]


• A Broken Vessel (1994) [r]


• Whom the Gods Love (1995) [r]


• The Devil in Music (1997) 1997 Agatha Award for Best Novel, Finalist 1998 Dilys Award [r]

Rosemary Rowe
Libertus, a mosaicist and an expert in puzzles and patterns, living in the ancient Roman town of Glevum (now Gloucester), England

• The Germanicus Mosaic (1999)


• Murder in the Forum (2001)


• A Pattern of Blood (2002)


• The Chariots of Calyx (2002)


• The Legatus Mystery (2003)


• The Ghosts of Glevum (2004)


• Enemies of the Empire (2005)


• A Roman Ransom (2006)


• A Coin for the Ferryman (2007)


• Death at Pompeia’s Wedding (2009)

Laura Joh Rowland
Sano Ichiro, a samurai and private investigator for the shogun, in the 1600s in Edo, Japan

• Shinju (1993) Finalist 1995 Anthony Award for Best First Novel, Finalist 1993 Hammett Prize


• Bundori (1996)


• The Way of the Traitor (1997)


• The Concubine’s Tattoo (1998)


• The Samurai’s Wife (2000)


• Black Lotus (2001)


• The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria (2002)


• The Dragon King’s Palace (2003)


• The Perfumed Sleeve (2004)


• Assassin’s Touch (2005)


• Red Chrysanthemum (2006)


• The Snow Empress (2007)


• The Fire Kimono (2008)


• The Cloud Pavilion (2009)

Priscilla Royal
Eleanor, Prioress of Tyndal in 11th century East Anglia, England

• Wine of Violence (2004) [r]


• Tyrant of the Mind (2004) [r]


• Sorrow Without End (2006) [r]


• Justice for the Damned (2007) [r]


• Forsaken Soul (2008) [r]


• Chambers of Death (2009) [r]

[r] = I've read it

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

That's the right attitude...

Saturday. It's a little overcast right now but that's okay. Contributes to a lazy day.

I was just thinking about my plan to get jeans today. There are high school basketball tournaments in town this weekend which brings in a lot of people from the surrounding towns and the shopping areas are swamped and the traffic terrible. It would be a better thought to wait rather than venturing out into that.

****************

Later: Took Tug for a long walk and it was really quite pleasant to be out and moving though maybe not as warm as I think they were predicting; vacuumed and got various load of laundry going. I've read a little email but I'm feeling a nap steal upon me. Steve's off shooting so all is quiet and I've got to take advantage.

Will do the baking/dinner making later. Hopefully I'll make more time to read emails and book. Nothing really on tv tonight for me so that is a good thing. We lose an hour tonight in the leap forward for Daylight Savings. What a weird concept. Who thought that up? What do they have against daylight when one drives to work? What I need is MORE time in order to balance my work and get a little more leisure in.

Another Saturday going by ...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Doh

Ah, Friday at last.

Plans are not firm for tomorrow. Steve will be at a gun tournament in town in the afternoon. I need to get some jeans, blech. And I've got bananas that must be used in banana bread muffins or be thrown away. The usual cleaning and laundry to do.

We've got Spartacus to watch in a little while. Then I'll do a little reading. Oy, I make so little headway. It's halfway through the month almost and I've not finished a book yet. Pa thetic. I should have a marathon reading session this weekend. Key word is should. Bah. I've very little to talk about books right now, darn it.

The weekend's weather is supposed to very nice. 50s and sunshine. Daylight savings switch tomorrow night. On Sunday we'll watch the new Band of Brothers' producers newest miniseries, The Pacific. We have high hopes.

I'd like to cruise around the blogs this weekend, catch up on the book world. I believe this weekend is LCC in LA so it will be quiet in the mystery reading spheres.

Gotta go watch half naked roman slaves fighting each other (Spartacus, silly).

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Wordless Thursday

Glasses make me look smarter ... and I can read the news prompter

Wednesday evening and all is well.

Have to go watch the beginning of the new season of America's Next Top Model ... because I like to see skinny size 0 girls being criticized ... and I do it while eating bad-for-me dinner. Bwaha hahaha!

Busy at work. Walked Tug. The tv show goes until 8:30 so not early early to bed but lights out by 9-9:30-ish I think. I've got a bone for Tug to chew on to keep him occupied. Steve is at his shooting night at the rifle club.

Still reading HOLLOW CROWN by David Roberts. I think I'm about halfway through but I'm not making a lot of time to read so not progressing quickly. Heck, I've not even completed a book this month. That sucks!

We had a few skiffs of snow today but it's supposed to warm again tomorrow.

See ya manana (I can't do the little accent thingy)...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Tired but wired (and if you say "troll" I'm going to hit you)

Long day. Work, Walmart. No time to walk Tug; Steve didn't get home til late too so I'm sure Tug will be major worked up tomorrow for his daily routine. He is a bit worked up now so I don't think I can be on the computer for much longer.

Very quickly checking email and news headlines. Will read in a bed for a little bit but I'm thinking sleep will be a welcome and much more important thing.

Hopefully, a better posting tomorrow.

Sweet dreams (can you hear Patsy Cline singing?)

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Hmm Monday: stealth mode or stay in bed ... or both

Well, apparently I wasn't in the mood right now for the Charles Finch. It seems I'm in the mood for a 1930's manor house party. In a daring leap over all other possibilities, I'm currently reading HOLLOW CROWN by David Roberts. It is 3rd of 10 in series featuring Lord Edward Corinth, a jaded English aristocrat, and Verity Browne, a leftist journalist, between the wars in 1930s London. Here is a description:

Lord Edward Corinth is invited by his friend Joe Weaver, the press lord and close friend of the British royal family, for the comparatively simpler case of recovering certain letters stolen from the king’s intimate friend Wallis Simpson. There is no mystery about who has taken these letters—it is a woman called Mrs. Raymond Harkness, a former mistress of the king and a close friend of Edward’s. When Edward goes down to Haling, the country house of conservative M.P. Leo Scannon where Mrs. Harkness is also a house guest, he cannot guess that retrieving stolen goods is to be complicated by a murder. Edward’s friend and fellow sleuth, the journalist Verity Browne, returned from the savagery of the Spanish Civil War, welcomes the distraction of helping Edward investigate what suddenly becomes a double murder. Both Edward and Verity are soon involved with political protest and the fight against Fascism—the Cable Street riots and the Jarrow March—and both battle to find the truth behind the hollow crown in what the poet W. H. Auden called "a low, dishonest decade."

It was published in 2002 and has 320 pages.

Well I got a large percentage of the Oscars right and a few wrong. I knew Sandra Bullock would win and I really like her as an actress, but I was hoping it wasn't going to turn out to be a popularity contest and I think it did. I am pleased that The Hurt Locker won 6 out of the 9 nominations. It was a great little film.

I'm a bit worn out tonight. At work today, it was what I call a "learning" day. I had more than one opportunity to learn from my mistakes or lack of training. Mentally taxing that. I may not go in quite as early tomorrow; in my new duties, the early morning isn't being as productive as in the past few weeks so it may be a waste of effort right now. I may have to go in on Saturdays for a few hours to get the full overtime available. We'll see.

Quoting Scarlett O'Hara: "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." As well as: "After all... tomorrow is another day." I think I'll do a slight bit more Interneting and then read a wee bit before turning in early.

G'night all...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Alphabet in Historical Crime Fiction (Q)/Academy Awards

~ Q~

Geoff Quaife
Luke Tremayne, Somerset, England, 1655 during the reign of Cromwell

• The Spanish Relation (2007)

Amanda Quick
Lavinia Lake and Tobias March, lovers and partners-in-crime investigators in Regency London

• Slightly Shady (2001)


• Don’t Look Back (2002)


• Late for the Wedding (2003)

Academy Awards are tonight. I'll watch but turn the channel during the silly bits and the acceptance speeches; I hate them. Here's my predictions:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Best Director: Katherine Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Actress: Carey Mulligan, An Education

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Bastards

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, Precious

The Hurt Locker will win the other big ones in editing, cinematography, sound, etc. Avatar will get the special effects/visual awards.

Best animated film: Up

Foreign Film: A Prophet

Best Costume and Makeup: The Young Victoria

Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air

Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker

I don't know enough about the docs and shorts to make a decision.

Let the games begin...

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster