PK the Bookeemonster: Strike a pose

Monday, June 10, 2024

Strike a pose

Monday

Over the weekend, I read LADY VIOLET ATTENDS A WEDDING by Grace Burrows. 2nd of 8 in Lady Violet regency historical mystery series.

Lady Violet Belmaine is just finding her balance as a widow who has recently put off mourning when she’s summoned to the family seat to celebrate a sibling’s wedding. Hugh St. Sevier’s escort makes the journey somewhat bearable, while Sebastian MacHeath’s presence among the guests is a more dubious blessing. Violet is managing as best she can with her stubborn Papa, difficult brothers, and well meaning aunties, when the bride goes missing. Tempers flare, old secrets come out at the worst times, and Violet can rely on only St. Sevier and Sebastian to help her find the bride… until she discovers that St. Sevier was the last person seen with the missing lady!

Published 2021; 245 pages. 4 stars

Unexpectedly, almost accidentally, I'm reading BEFORE THEY ARE HANGED by Joe Abercrombie. 2nd of The First Law fantasy trilogy

Superior Glokta has a problem. How do you defend a city surrounded by enemies and riddled with traitors, when your allies can by no means be trusted, and your predecessor vanished without a trace? It’s enough to make a torturer want to run – if he could even walk without a stick. Northmen have spilled over the border of Angland and are spreading fire and death across the frozen country. Crown Prince Ladisla is poised to drive them back and win undying glory. There is only one problem – he commands the worst-armed, worst-trained, worst-led army in the world. And Bayaz, the First of the Magi, is leading a party of bold adventurers on a perilous mission through the ruins of the past. The most hated woman in the South, the most feared man in the North, and the most selfish boy in the Union make a strange alliance, but a deadly one. They might even stand a chance of saving mankind from the Eaters. If they didn’t hate each other quite so much. Ancient secrets will be uncovered. Bloody battles will be won and lost. Bitter enemies will be forgiven – but not before they are hanged.

Published 2007; 441 pages. I also have found the audiobook of this on YouTube.

But then .....

And jumping the queue, I was notified this morning of an approval for an Advanced Reading Copy of THE TRAP by Ava Glass. 3rd in Alias Emma spy series.

She has just one week to stop a killer.
Emma Makepeace is headed to Edinburgh for the global G7 Summit when her team is tipped off about a high-profile assassination the Russians are planning—but they have no idea who the target is. Surrounded by the world’s most powerful political leaders in a gridlocked city, Emma must set a trap and use herself as bait. With time running short, Emma faces the most perilous mission of her career. How far will she go to catch the killer?

Publishing September 2024; 320 pages.

I started Miranda's Christmas afghan this weekend. I think it will look fine. The yarn, however, is discontinued so I've been scrambling to find enough skeins to make a respectable-looking blanket.