Recap of March reads (cross post on 4MA). Eight books, not bad.
NO MARK UPON HER by Deborah Crombie 14th of 14 in series featuring Duncan Kincaid, a Scotland Yard superintendent, and Gemma James, a Detective Inspector, in London. “When a K9 search-and-rescue team discovers a woman's body tangled up with debris in the river, Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds himself heading an investigation fraught with complications. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers—and just as many enemies. An Olympic contender on the verge of a controversial comeback, she was also a high-ranking detective with the Met—a fact that raises a host of political and ethical issues in an already sensitive case.” It was published in February 2012 and has 384 pages. I like this series and this was fine.
WHEN MAIDENS MOURN by CS Harris. 7th of 7 in series featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, an investigator in Regency England. “When Gabrielle Tennyson is murdered, aristocratic investigator Sebastian St. Cyr and his new reluctant bride, the fiercely independent Hero Jarvis, find themselves involved in an intrigue concerning the myth of King Arthur, Camelot, and a future poet laureate” It was published in March 2012 and has 352 pages. I love love love this series.
THE JANUS STONE by Elly Griffiths 2nd of 4 in series featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, and Harry Nelson, a detective chief inspector, in the Saltmarsh area near Norfolk, England. “When constructions workers demolishing a large old mansion to make way for a new development uncover the bones of a child beneath a doorway—minus its skull—Ruth is once again called upon to investigate. Is it a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand? When carbon dating proves that the child’s bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn more deeply into the case. But as spring turns into summer, it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death.” It was published in 2010 and has 352 pages. Characters and story are good enough for me to overlook present tense.
THE COMPLAINT OF THE DOVE by Hannah March 1st of 5 in series featuring Robert Fairfax, a private tutor in the 1760s in London. “Seductive Lucy Dove is the toast of the London stage in 1760-until she is strangled. When lovestruck Matthew Helmsley is found drunk on her doorstep, private tutor and amateur sleuth Robert Fairfax must save his young pupil from the hangman.” It was published in 2003 and has 272 pages. It is a quick and pleasant read. I like the time period.
ACT OF MERCY by Peter Tremayne 8th of 23 in series featuring Sister Fidelma, a 7th century Celtic sister and legal advocate in Kildare, Ireland. “In the late autumn of 666 A.D., Fidelma of Cashel - an advocate of the Brehon Courts, sister to the King of Cashel, and religieuse of the Celtic Church -- is at a crossroads. Needing to reflect upon her commitment to the religious life and her relationship to the Saxon monk Eadulf, she joins a small band sailing from Ireland on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James in modern-day Spain. Her first surprise on-board is the appearance of Cian, her first love, a man who had deserted her ten years ago, and who stirs up memories she'd rather forget. On the first night out the ship is tossed by a turbulent sea and a pilgrim disappears, apparently washed overboard. But the appearance of a blood-stained robe raises the possibility of murder and death continues to dog the tiny band of pilgrims trapped within the close confines of the ship.” It was published in 2001 and has 288 pages. This is a great series and in this, Fidelma (in flashbacks) shows emotion!
THE HOUSE AT SEA’S END by Elly Griffiths. 3rd of 4 in series featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, and Harry Nelson, a detective chief inspector, in the Saltmarsh area near Norfolk, England. “Just back from maternity leave, Ruth is finding it difficult to juggle motherhood and work. The presence of DCI Harry Nelson—the married father of her daughter, Kate—does not help. The bones, skeletons of six men with their arms bound, turn out to be about seventy years old, which leads Nelson and Ruth to the war years, a desperate time on this stretch of coastland. Home Guard veteran Archie Whitcliffe reveals the existence of a secret the old soldiers have vowed to protect with their lives. But then Archie is killed and a German journalist arrives, asking questions about Operation Lucifer, a plan to stop a German invasion, and a possible British war crime. What was Operation Lucifer? And who is prepared to kill to keep its secret?” It was published in 2011 and has 384 pages.
Nonfiction:
IN MY TIME: A Personal and Political Memoir by Dick Cheney
IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larsen.
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Tonight on TV are the premieres of the second seasons of two miniseries: The Killing and The Game of Thrones. Luckily, the two hour of The Killing starts at 6 and The Game of Thrones repeats at 8. The problem is, right in the middle there's a show that Steve likes to watch, The Ax Men. I don't particularly care for that show though it can be amusing. I keep expecting death or terrible injury as these loggers go at it. (shudder)
Last night, defying the laws of physics, Coda shook his head and a spot of saliva flew into my eye, somehow bypassing my glasses. How? I don't know. So I put eye drops in and took a Benedryl because I'm notoriously allergic to anything "dog" touching my eye -- no really, I'm very careful not to touch my eyes if I've been petting them. So... I have a Benedryl hangover today -- a little tired and lacking ambition. We'll see what I can get done today.
After a gorgeous day yesterday -- high of 78 -- it is really windy today and not supposed to reach 60.
It's 10:30, all the boys are sleeping. I'm sure there's a nap in my future. :) I gotta get dinner going in the crockpot. Get some laundry going.
I haven't settled on my next read yet. Many possibilities, of course. That's never a problem. I just don't know what my mood is yet. What "flavor" of book do I want?
Much love,
PK the Bookeemonster
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