Death of a Busybody by Dell Shannon is a 1970 Pyramid/William Morrow publication. (Originally published in 1963)
This book is from my vintage paperbackDeath of a Busybody by Dell Shannon is a 1970 Pyramid/William Morrow publication. (Originally published in 1963)
This book is from my vintage paperback collection. Many have heard me mention the collection, and usually when I write a review for one of these books, it’s an old Gothic mystery or one of my Medical romances, but I do have a very healthy collection of old detective books and a few cozy mysteries too.
I wasn’t sure if these mysteries were gritty, hardboiled stories or if they came down on the lighter side. As it turns out, the novel seems to fall somewhere in between a standard police procedural and a cozy mystery.
The Luis Mendoza series began in 1960 and ran through the late eighties and boast 28 installments. The series was popular, but over time it fell into obscurity, and never gained a renewed interest in the way a few other old detective series have. I have a handful of these books on my shelf, but this is the first one I’ve read-
A woman with a penchant for starting nasty rumors about people is found murdered. Naturally, she had a few enemies, so there is no shortage of suspects. Therefore, Luis Mendoza has his hands full trying to ascertain who the murderer is. There are several nice theories he works through along the way, some more plausible than others, but I was satisfied with the way the mystery was wrapped up.
I also enjoyed the private moments in the life of Detective Mendoza, who is married and is currently house hunting. He and his wife are also cat lovers, plus there is a cat featured prominently in the story, which is right up my alley.
But, because this is the fifth book in the series, I have obviously missed out some of Mendoza’s personal backstory, which would be nice to catch up on sometime-
It took me a little while to get into a groove with this book. Mendoza speaks Spanish with no translation, on occasion, and the writing takes a little bit of getting used to. I find that happens to me quite often when reading older books. Once I got all the characters down, the flow evened out for me, so the second half of the book was pretty good.
Unfortunately, this book is very much a product of its time and is politically incorrect to the max. To be fair, the book was written over fifty years ago and the attitudes expressed here were pretty normal, back in 1963. That doesn’t make it right, of course, but, if you see past those issues, the mystery is not half bad.
I’m not sure if all of Shannon’s books are like this one when it comes to political incorrectness and offensive attitudes and language. This may not be the best representation of her work, so I’ll probably try one of her other 'Mendoza' mysteries someday, when the mood strikes.
However, I am not sure I would recommend this particular installment in the series to anyone, as I feel quite confident the book would be too offensive for the majority of contemporary readers, but if you think you can tolerate it, there was a digital copy available on Amazon-or there was the last time I checked.
This book is part of my vintage paperback collection. This is an author I was not familiar with, but it appears she wrote at least fifteen books back This book is part of my vintage paperback collection. This is an author I was not familiar with, but it appears she wrote at least fifteen books back in the 1970s, all of them falling into the Gothic category.
This book, which was published way back in 1967, was all over the place, unfortunately, and one character fell into the 'too stupid to live' category- literally. She was so stupid, her character died before the half way mark. There was a nice twist, but the story didn't have a Gothic tone and was missing most of the required Gothic elements. It was more like a thriller with a light romance tossed in for good measure. There was a typo on page one and a few other grammatical issues, as well.
Like I always say, you never know what you'll get when you start reading old books by lesser known authors. You win some, you lose some.
Girl Intern by Mary Fletcher is a 1970 Valentine Books publication.
I just finished reading a couple of books with heavy topics, which, unfortunately,Girl Intern by Mary Fletcher is a 1970 Valentine Books publication.
I just finished reading a couple of books with heavy topics, which, unfortunately, affected my mood, especially since our weather has been wet, cold, and gloomy this past week. Blah!
So, I decided I needed a break from current events and depressing subjects. As some of you know, I have a little vintage paperback collection, and from to time I like to take an old book off the shelf and read it for fun. In my current mood, it seemed like the perfect time to read an old-fashioned, sweet medical romance, which are always good for a good laugh, if nothing else.
The premise of this book didn’t sound too heavy, and like so many of these older books, it was short- with only 191 pages- and that’s with the ‘larger type, non-glare paper’. ...more
Murder on a Mystery Tour by Marian Babson is a 1988 Bantam publication. (Originally published in 1985 by the Title “Not One Word Has Been Omitted”)
I’vMurder on a Mystery Tour by Marian Babson is a 1988 Bantam publication. (Originally published in 1985 by the Title “Not One Word Has Been Omitted”)
I’ve been dying to try out one of Marian Babson’s mystery novels for a long time. I plucked this one out of the pile because it has a very slight holiday/ wintery theme, to go along with my holiday reading this year.
I was concerned a bit by some mixed reviews, but for me, this one is a happy surprise. I thought it was great fun.
If you like ‘Golden Age’ mysteries, you will enjoy this novel and its backdoor homage to mystery novels written between 1920 and 1940.
Reggie and Midge have resorted to hosting ‘Mystery Tours’ to keep their manor house out of debt. The staff, guests and actors work in concert to present the ‘Mystery’.
Guests for this tour include Bramwell, a famous mystery author, and his overbearing mother, Amaryllis and the Chandler twins, who both have a crush on Bramwell.
And let’s not forget, Ackroyd, a cat named after the Agatha Christie novel- Who killed Roger Ackroyd- ironically enough.
While the story does have some issues, it was actually pretty clever. Two mysteries going at once- the staged one and the real one. Naturally, they become snowbound, just for kicks and giggles, adding to the uneasy tension in the house.
There are several big surprises, and red herrings, and is, of course, set up to resemble mystery novels from the Golden Age, which I happen to love, flaws and all.
The story is pretty busy, and can get a little confusing, with so many characters and the two mysteries running simultaneously. But, because the book is so short, I could take my time with it, so I didn't have too much trouble keeping it all straight. I love the dialogue and intrigue, and enjoyed trying to guess who the murderer was- in both mysteries.
Overall, this is a wonderfully entertaining mystery, and I truly had a great time reading it. All of Marian Babson's books are short, usually under three hundred pages, and often feature a feline presence. They probably fit better in the cozy category, but I think all mystery lovers will enjoy these books.
Moon Witch by Felicia Matthews is a 1980 Jove publication.
This book is a private read from my personal vintage paperback collection, although it realMoon Witch by Felicia Matthews is a 1980 Jove publication.
This book is a private read from my personal vintage paperback collection, although it really falls more under the ‘retro-read’ category than vintage, with a 1980 copyright date. I have no idea how I came into possession of this book- could have been a garage sale, library sale, used bookstore – no telling. But, either way, I can assure you the cover is what caught my eye. That gorgeous dress and the dramatic pose is eye popping- and the title is certainly intriguing.
While it would be tempting to take one look at the book and draw certain conclusions about its contents, remember the adage about judging a book by its cover. This is NOT a ‘Bodice Ripper’. Truthfully, it really isn’t a romance, not in the way we think of romance today. It is categorized as such, but it fits more into the historical fiction range, in my humble opinion.
Amanda is a wealthy widow, inheriting a large swatch of land in Wyoming from her husband. She is a Native American, and a woman, running a business, which causes some resentment. Doug, the local sheriff is one of those who have taken issue with Amanda’s power, mainly because he is in love with her, and would rather he be the provider and not the other way around. So, he refuses to acknowledge his feeling towards her.
Frustrated by Doug’s behavior, Amanda takes a trip to San Francisco, where she has an intense fling with a man named Trevor. Amanda returns home, but Trevor doesn’t make any mention of how the relationship will proceed from there. Eventually, he does come to visit Amanda, but the relationship immediately sours, leaving Amanda feeling unsure of their future. In the meantime, her community is going through some troubling times, involving murder and land grabbing, putting Amanda, Doug and even Trevor in the middle of all the drama. Amanda’s power and standing in the area is sorely tested, as betrayals and manipulations drain her strength, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Will she rise- up and fight for her town, her land, and for the man she loves?
When one pulls out an old book, one in which the author is not an easily recognizable name, it’s a crap shoot. It could be terribly dated, or offensive, politically incorrect, or just plain bad. Then there are books like this one that turns out to be a pleasant surprise.
The book is a little like a family saga, spanning some length of time, with plenty of high drama, intrigue, and adventure. It also has a strong feminist tone, giving Amanda a fierce independence, which was not always prevalent in the time period. As the synopsis and the title suggest, there is a paranormal element, but except for one intense, overly dramatic and mildly cheesy scene, it is not a prominent feature.
Mainly the story is centered around a plot of revenge, one that takes Amanda a while to catch onto. Readers are unable to trust anyone once it becomes clear there is mischief afoot. The author also addresses the racism Amanda endures on top of the misogyny of the era, another element which was a little ahead of its time.
Once I decide to read one of these older books, especially one written by an author I never heard of, I’m curious about several things. One- is the author still active? Two-what other books have they written? Three-How rare is the book? Four- Is it available in digital format? Five- How hard will it be for other readers to obtain a copy?
In this case I discovered that the author of this book is a man!! His name is Charles L. Grant, who was a prolific fantasy and science fiction author. He also wrote under several other pseudonyms. Sadly, the author passed away in 2006.
I also discovered that other books related to this one, such as ‘Mountain Witch’ and ‘River Witch’ the first two books in the “Witch” series are available in the Kindle Unlimited program. Why this third book is not available, I don’t know. But, maybe whoever owns the copyright now will notice some interest, and will add this one as well. Until then, unfortunately, one will have to resort to combing through used bookstores online or eBay to find a copy of this one.
Overall, this is a unique story, one that was nothing at all like what I was expecting. So, now I am definitely going to add the first two books to my TBR pile. I’m glad to see some of these older books are being digitally formatted now, because sometimes these old books will surprise you....more
Leota Foreman, RN by Peggy Gaddis is a 1957 Arcadia House publication.
Anyone who has read my profile knows I like to collect old paperbacks. These boLeota Foreman, RN by Peggy Gaddis is a 1957 Arcadia House publication.
Anyone who has read my profile knows I like to collect old paperbacks. These books are probably not worth anything monetarily, but are books that out of print, and ones I find unique and are perhaps a little like finding buried treasure. I’ve discovered some real gems from time to time. However, I rarely find a time in my review schedule to read them.
So, due to various circumstances, I have decided to stop adding more books to the collection, at least for the foreseeable future. ( My book collection might make poor little Marie Kondo curl up in a fetal position and suck her thumb) While my little hobby is on hiatus, I am going to stick to the only 2019 New Year’s resolution I made this year, and that is to start reading books in my collection a lot more often.
This is the first book I’ve managed to squeeze in, so far. This is a 1957 medical/nurse story, which are still very popular with collectors. They are long, long, long out of print, of course. However, one can still find copies of them on Ebay and Amazon marketplace, as well as some used bookstores online.
Leota Foreman is an RN living in New York City. After losing a patient and depressed by the cold, bitter NY winter, she makes the spur of the moment decision to take a vacation in Florida. ( She doesn't give her employer notice of any kind and apparently money is of no concern)
She decides to stop in a small town of Poinsettia, to soak up some rays and enjoy the scenery. But, right away she bumps into the town doctor who appears to have zero bedside manner. However, there is a very nice man in town, a lawyer, named Mitch, who has offered to show her around. He eventually introduces Leota to an elderly lady dying of cancer who now needs more round the clock care. Although Leota left New York to get away from such scenes, as a nurse, she feels she should help if she can.
Little does she know that her life is about to change radically as she becomes embroiled in a messy family situation where high drama ensues. This story itself isn’t really all that bad. There are cancer experiments that failed, and a contested will which inspired a little legal drama. But, all the ‘Insta-love’ was off the charts, and some of it was super creepy, especially by today’s standards.
But, at the time this book was written, no one would have thought a thing of it, and most likely thought it was romantic. !!! The drama was absolutely over the top with an evil femme fatale and lots of high- handed dialogue. Some cool words like- ‘Zounds’, ‘Golly’, and ‘Jeepers’- were endearingly nostalgic.
This book was price stamped at 50 cents back in 1957 and is 128 pages in length. However, the print is very, very tiny.
A slightly rare paperback that is probably only interesting to me. However, any other collectors of medical/nurse paperback can find a few of copies available on Amazon, although they look to be reissued- listed as copyright 1962. ...more
By now everyone knows I collect vintage paperbacks. A few months back, I lucked across a pretty large batch of vintage 'nurse/doctor' novels that are By now everyone knows I collect vintage paperbacks. A few months back, I lucked across a pretty large batch of vintage 'nurse/doctor' novels that are mostly hard to find or out of print. Some of these are romance novels, some are more focused on the medical drama. This one sounded like it might be a mystery, so I thought I'd check it out.
This book was published in 1962. You have to keep that mind because a lot of the information is flat out wrong, but may have been common misconceptions back then. On the other hand, I was shocked that the author had the guts to address some of the subjects raised in this book at all. It had to have been a pretty controversial move back in 1962 even if the author stayed firmly on the conservative side of the issues at hand. Still, there was the portrayal of desperation that leads people to make dangerous choices. The mystery would have been good, except the motive led to more misconceptions and outright falsehoods about certain medical conditons that would not hold water, even back then. I did end up with an appreciation for the advances made since then, even if treatments are still similiar. The greatest improvement being that we are more informed, allowing people with these medical conditons to enjoy normal lives- mostly stigma free. I think this book was probably ahead of its time, especially for the targeted market, but definitely didn't stand the test of time. Very dated....more
A Wild Hope by Celeste De Blasis is a 2020 Bookouture publication.
Well, they sure don’t write ‘em like this anymore… Sigh…
This sweeping saga was oriA Wild Hope by Celeste De Blasis is a 2020 Bookouture publication.
Well, they sure don’t write ‘em like this anymore… Sigh…
This sweeping saga was originally written back in the 1980s, back when epic historical tomes were commonplace. Sadly, many of these books have simply faded into obscurity along with the authors who wrote them.
Thankfully, some publishers have chosen to digitally format a select few of them- giving them new titles and covers and offering them to a whole new audience.
For those of us who were fans back in the day, this is also an opportunity to revisit some of our old favorite authors and some of their work again… and in a format that is a little easier on the eyes.
For anyone concerned about content- not every single historical romance novel written in the 1980s was a ‘bodice ripper’. Yes, this book is a romance and there are explicit sex scenes- more than I felt was necessary, and there are moral issues, like adultery, but it is also a story that would appeal to historical fiction fans. For it’s time the novel incorporated issues into the story, like race, and feminism and features a strong female lead character, which should appeal to the modern reader.
I really miss these sweeping sagas. There’s nothing like being swept away into another time and place and following the characters through all the tragedies and triumphs in their lives. I also love that the story will continue in the next book and will once again feature characters from this novel and lead the reader into future generations. That’s something we don’t get much of these days in historical fiction or romance and I kind of miss that too.
This is a long book- and because our attention spans are shorter these days- I did get a bit impatient a time or two when I felt the pacing lagged and there didn’t seem to be much going on- but at the same time, I enjoyed the long span of time the novel covered and all the various locations, and layers of emotions involved.
Overall, I loved getting lost in this novel and it was so nice to read a book by Celeste De Blasis again, after all these years. Looking forward to book two in the trilogy!!
Line Up for Murder by Marian Babson is a 1991 Warner Books (NY) Books publication. Originally published in 1980.
After Christmas sales! It wouldn't suLine Up for Murder by Marian Babson is a 1991 Warner Books (NY) Books publication. Originally published in 1980.
After Christmas sales! It wouldn't surprise me if a tragic crime occurred while people fought over rock bottom discounts. I thought that might be the premise of this book, and in a way it was, but it wasn't exactly what I had imagined....
Unfortunately, this is not one of Babson’s best efforts. The mystery is flat and uninspired until the last couple of chapters. Once the action starts, it was just too rushed. Maybe if Babson had a featured a cat in the story, as she so often does, the book would have been more interesting.
This book is from my personal paperback collection and I’ve been meaning to read it for years. I’ll keep the book as part of my Marian Babson collection, but I couldn’t recommend it to read.
The Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt is a 1960 publication.
Everyone knows I am a huge fan of these old Gothic suspense novels and love to collect The Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt is a 1960 publication.
Everyone knows I am a huge fan of these old Gothic suspense novels and love to collect the old paperbacks.Those covers are just fantastic!!
Victoria Holt’s name is nearly synonymous with this genre and she was quite prolific.
As such, I’m still hunting down some of her harder to find books and haven’t come close to reading all of her novels. So, it’s fun to pull one of these off the shelf and lose myself in a different time, despite the datedness of some of these stories.
They are often a representation of a simpler time, in the days when the suspense was more reliant on atmosphere and dialogue, and the romance was about as chaste as it comes.
Holt’s books may be true the era of time in which she sets her stories, the women of the day having little opportunity and often at the mercy of men, but her heroines are rarely ‘too stupid to live’, or present themselves as the proverbial ‘damsel in distress’.
Her writing style is still quite effective and can create a strong sense of unease, even for the most jaded modern reader.
However, this book is, more or less, a poor man’s Jane Eyre. The old mansion, the governess, the gruff master of the house, the mystery surrounding his wife’s death, and the relationship that begins to develop between the master and the governess. All of these are classic Gothic mystery elements, but, this plot was just too familiar and Holt was quite capable of more originality than this.
But, to be fair, the ending was a lot more sinister than Jane Eyre, as there is a legitimate murder mystery and our heroine is in genuine danger which for its day was probably a little shocking. It was not an unpleasant read, but it wasn’t the best of Holt’s repertoire. 3 stars...more
A Nurse’s Courage by Jessica Matthews is a 2002 Harlequin Medical publication.
Rachel, a former ER nurse, returns to her hometown to help renovate a hA Nurse’s Courage by Jessica Matthews is a 2002 Harlequin Medical publication.
Rachel, a former ER nurse, returns to her hometown to help renovate a home now belonging to her grandparents. This project will give Rachel the time she needs to regroup after her decision to quit nursing.
However, she is shocked to discover that her grandparents also asked her childhood friend, Nick Sheridan, to help with the house, which will enable him to pay off some of his college debts. Nick is a doctor now, handsome as ever, and the two immediately picks up their old competitive ways, but this time, Rachel is feeling bruised and Nick is desperate to keep her from throwing away her career.
I have a pretty nice collection of Harlequin Medical romances, although most of these would not be considered vintage, at least not just yet. So, why, collect the medical novels if they aren’t vintage? These books are not as common, at least in my neck of the woods, and are not as heavily promoted by the publisher, that I’ve noticed. Yet, in my opinion, they are some of the best stories Harlequin publishes. I really enjoyed these medical romance novels more than I do any of the other Harlequin lines, with the possible exception, of Harlequin Intrigue. Not only that, with various lines disappearing, I suppose because of disappointing sales and the waning interest in certain once popular trends, I am afraid they may stop publishing them, and I want a nice stash of them to fall back on, just in case.
Once I started this book, I had a very hard time putting it down. I kept picking it back up wondering what had happened that made Rachel give up her nursing career. Of course, it’s not rocket science to figure out the basics, but her story really was heartbreaking.
Nick is the perfect guy to offset the sadness surrounding Rachel. He’s got a reputation as a lady’s man, but anyone can tell he’s crazy about Rachel- well anyone but Rachel, that is. Nick gently coaxes Rachel into explaining why she’s returned home and begins working to build her confidence again, while also taking his shot at winning her heart. He enjoys teasing Rachel and giving her a hard time, which was just the type of medicine she needed.
It seems to me, these books are more character driven, and usually have a lower steam level than other Harlequin lines. I enjoy the medical dramas and dilemmas, the sense of urgency that surrounds medical issues.
This one pulls on the heartstrings a little, and I did begin to wonder if Rachel would rise to the occasion or if she would ever realize how much Nick loved her. But, of course, there is a special and wonderful happily ever for this awesome couple.
This is such a good story, it makes me want to immediately start adding more of these books to my immediate ‘to read’ list.
Tidings of Great Joy by Sandra Brown is a 1999 Bantam publication. (Originally published in 1987)
Oh, my goodness!!
I would imagine most of Sandra BrowTidings of Great Joy by Sandra Brown is a 1999 Bantam publication. (Originally published in 1987)
Oh, my goodness!!
I would imagine most of Sandra Brown’s legions of fans know her mainly through her romantic suspense and thriller novels. But, before she found her niche in those genres, she wrote straight up contemporary romance novels.
I happened across a slew of Sandra Brown’s contemporary romance novels- all in hardcover- at a garage sale a while back for a dollar a piece. I snapped up every single one of them on that table. I collect old books, which everyone already knows, but mainly, as a huge fan of this author, I thought it would be fun to collect some of her books written BEFORE she became such a famous author. I had never read any of them, so I was very curious about them. I’ve been trying to squeeze one into my reading schedule for a while.
So, when I went in search of a few holiday related stories for my Flashback Friday feature on my blog, it gave me the perfect opportunity to sample one of these older books by SB. The cover for this book is so pretty, with that deep red color and the beautiful fonts, and it is a short book, and had a pretty good rating average on GR, which made it seem like the perfect choice.
However-
One must remember when reading a CONTEMPORARY romance written way back in 1987, that it will most likely have a dated quality to it. I have a high tolerance for dated material, if it is limited to fashions, popular phrases of the day, older technology, etc. I’m always prepared to give these books a great deal of latitude, before I even start reading them. In fact, sometimes the nostalgia is part of the book’s charm.
This one, however, was cringe worthy.
The basic set-up is that on Christmas Eve, Taylor, the mayor-elect, and Ria have a one- night stand which results in a pregnancy. Ria felt it was her moral obligation to inform Taylor he was about to become a father.
Taylor immediately goes on the defensive accusing her of attempting to ruin his political career, slut shaming her, and a whole lot of other clichés.
Eventually, he calms down, and Ria explains that due to her upbringing, having a child born legitimately was very important to her. So, they get married, but in name only- or that was the initial agreement, at any rate.
However, they couldn’t stop going at it in the bedroom. Otherwise, Taylor seemed to always keep Ria on the defensive and she remained prickly throughout the entire novel. So, to me, the chemistry was mostly sexual, with very little emotional sentiments either said or demonstrated.
The story is old fashioned, which is to be expected with a book that was written over thirty years ago. But the dialogue was just terrible, and the story isn’t exactly a Christmas story, per se. The story begins on Christmas Eve and then concludes with a little after Christmas gift giving, which was utterly preposterous.
[image] Overall, this one didn’t age too well. This doesn’t mean all of SB’s older titles will read the way like this book did. However, this one was a dud. 2 stars...more
A Ghost of a Chance by Bill Crider is a 2001 Worldwide publication.
Another delightful chapter in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series!
Rhodes has his handfulA Ghost of a Chance by Bill Crider is a 2001 Worldwide publication.
Another delightful chapter in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series!
Rhodes has his handful when a feud between Historical societies leads to murder. If that weren’t enough, meth dealers and a ghost are also stirring up trouble in Blacklin County- and as always, the Sheriff’s crew hilariously tries his patience at every turn…
The story is short- very fast-paced and busy, but also a bit complex. I was very invested in the historical society thread, and the ghost story.
The side story about the meth ring was an ‘also ran’ in the story, but was part of the landscape in rural Texas at the time this book as published-and Rhodes explains why it was so hard to weed out the drug dealers in such a sparsely populated area.
The folksy jargon is charming- and as the book was published twenty years ago, some of the nostalgia has a bittersweet quality to it now.
I got a late start on this series- having only read a handful of the newer releases before Crider became ill. I vowed to go back and read the earlier installments in the series and have tried to piece the series together for the past few years.
I found this book in a paperback swap store, and since the storyline involved ghosts, I decided to make it one of my ‘Halloween’ picks this year. I’m really glad I did.
I have missed Sheriff Rhodes and the gang and truly enjoyed the mysteries, and the wonderful humor sprinkled throughout. The ‘Murder, She Wrote’ mentions, the cats, and the Emus were especially fun, as were Rhodes’ addiction to Dr. Pepper- which brings back fond memories.
Overall, a nice trip down memory lane- a good solid mystery or two- and just some good, old-fashioned storytelling. Fun stuff!!
No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews is a 2006 Minotaur publication.
Who knew croquet could be so dangerous?
Meg and her friends are playing croqueNo Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews is a 2006 Minotaur publication.
Who knew croquet could be so dangerous?
Meg and her friends are playing croquet on her neighbor’s farm. Not ordinary croquet, mind you, but eXtreme croquet. When Meg’s ball veers off course, she discovers a dead body. No one seems to know who the woman is…. Until Meg’s fiancé later identifies her as a woman he once dated!
As the investigation opens, Meg and Chief Burke work to discover who might have a motive for murder, uncovering several curious suspects as well as some very interesting historical details someone might not want anyone to know.
Meanwhile the croquet players aren’t happy about putting their game on hold and Michael and Meg fret over the possible sell of the neighboring farm, which is slated to become an outlet mall and could thwart their home renovations.
As usual, the recurring characters get up to some pretty crazy and zany antics. The dialogue in this installment is particularly witty and hilarious. The eXtreme croquet rules are hysterical and laugh out loud funny.
The only problem I had was that the motive was weak. However, I never guessed who the murderer was. In my defense, I was so distracted by all the goings on with Meg, her parents, brother, and Rose Noire, not to mention the sheep, dogs, and a duck laying eggs- among other things, to solve the murder.
This series, so far, has always been a breath of fresh air. If you love comedy, sharp dialogue, and a good whodunit, you should give this series a try. I’m reading them in order, but don’t let the sheer volume of installments deter you. I think you could jump in anywhere and still enjoy the series- but you might get hooked on it immediately- especially cozy mystery fans.
I predict you will love Meg and her dry wit and of course, her crazy, eccentric family, and all the residents of Caerphilly.
Another wildly entertaining mystery-can’t wait to read the next book in the series....more
Tim Ekaterin is an up- and- coming merchant banker who goes out on a limb to fronBanker by Dick Francis is a 1982 publication.
A nice change of pace!
Tim Ekaterin is an up- and- coming merchant banker who goes out on a limb to front a huge amount of money to Oliver Knowles, a stud-farmer, to buy a champion horse named Sandcastle.
Tim becomes friends with Oliver and his daughter while learning a great deal about horse breeding, in the process. Tim makes other acquaintances in the horse world, including an ‘animal healer’, a man with a reputation for bringing animals back from the brink of death.
Things are looking good for Tim, career wise, and his office politics are improving along with his success. His personal life could be better, though, as he pines for the wife of one of his colleagues.
Unfortunately, things begin to go awry when a veterinarian is murdered amid Sandcastle’s foals being born with deformities or dying. The race is on to discover who is behind the murder, and to figure out what is going on with Sandcastle’s progeny. The horse is insured to the hilt for everything imaginable- but this- which means Oliver will most likely lose everything…
This book is so different from the ones I’ve been reading recently, I suppose that could be part of why I found it so appealing. The horse world has always harbored a dark underbelly and Francis made a career writing about it. This book is a bit different from other Francis novels, I think, as a merchant banker is the main character, a man who only had a moderate amount of knowledge about the industry, only becoming involved because of the bank’s business dealings. Francis, a former jockey, displays his personal insider view in these books. This novel offers quite an education about the breeding process.
I found Tim likeable and although some of the plot points were a bit far-fetched, I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and am wondering why all my Dick Francis books have been languishing on my shelf collecting dust for so many years.
Because I’m culling through my paperbacks, making a few tough choices about what to keep and what to donate to the library, I was seriously considering letting the Dick Francis collection go. Now, I think I’ll hold onto these books for a little while longer!
The Bad Seed by William March is a 1972 Dell publication. This book was originally published in 1954.
Evil children can be found in literature, going The Bad Seed by William March is a 1972 Dell publication. This book was originally published in 1954.
Evil children can be found in literature, going back centuries. Matilda from ‘The Monk’ by Matthew Lewis ,written back in 1796, for example. However, evil children became a popular horror novel trope beginning in the fifties and reaching an epic peak in the seventies.
Evil children still make an appearance in movies and novels, never completely going out of style, and of course, are not solely confined to the horror or thriller categories.
If you do a Google search for a list of ‘Evil Children’ in literature, you’ll get an eclectic, and interesting group of lists. However, there is always one child that makes the list every single time: little Rhoda Penmark.
I read this book decades ago, and later watched the 1956 film version. While I remembered the basics of the story, I’d forgotten most of the finer details that made this book such a fantastic thriller. I’m glad I picked this one as part of my October/Halloween reading this year. It’s not a supernatural thriller, but is spine tingling, and hair raising, all the same- even after all these years.
“It seemed to her than violence was an inescapable factor of the heart, perhaps the most important factor of all- an ineradicable thing that lay, like a bad seed, behind kindness, behind compassion, behind the embrace of love itself. Sometimes it lay deeply hidden, sometimes it lay close to the surface; but always it was there, ready to appear, under the right conditions, in all its irrational dreadfulness.”
With her husband away on business for an entire summer, Christine is alone with her smart, clever, and precocious, eight -year old daughter, Rhoda. The summer gets off to a tragic beginning, when a little boy in Rhoda’s class dies. Christina begins to have dark thoughts about her daughter’s peculiar behavior, which sparks a sudden keen interest in crimes and those who commit serial murder. As Christine becomes more aware of her daughter’s lack of conscience, the coldness in her, she becomes increasingly anxious. This does not go unnoticed by Christine’s neighbor, who thinks the world of her and Rhoda.
The deeper Christine researches the mind of murderers, especially female serial killers, she begins to trace her own family tree, which reveals a horrible, shocking truth. Can evil be inherited? It’s the classic debate of ‘nature versus nurture’.
I am so glad I put everything down and gave this sinister little book another look. I was struck by many things this second time around that my younger self wouldn’t have pondered on for too long, or noticed at all, taking everything at face value – ironically.
The book seems a little ahead of its time and tackled some feminist topics we still face today. Except for Leroy, the female characters outnumber the males and are far more dominant. The psychology, especially in the 50s, is very interesting, and the killers Christine researched were real life murderers, several of whom I’d never heard of. This, of course, required some internet investigations, and informed me of some rather shocking true crime cases!
Now that we’ve all become so jaded, a book like this one wouldn’t raise eyebrows today, as it is all too obvious. But, in the fifties, the female criminal is still considered rare, and forget about suspecting such an adorable, innocent looking little girl of being a cold -blooded killer. But, what makes this book so effective, and still quite chilling, even by today’s desensitized viewpoint, is the calculation and mannerisms Rhoda exhibits, and the cluelessness of everyone around her.
Not only that, it raised pertinent questions about inherited proclivities, and a examines the shrewd, diabolical mind a sociopath, who plans and carries out premeditated crimes without the slightest bit of remorse. I’m still impressed with this book, despite its predictable nature. This is a novel that set a president, a trend-setter, and helped spawn an entire trope, both in books and movies, featuring sinister, evil children.
But, more importantly, we are reminded that looks can be deceiving, that evil has many faces, and despite their cherubic little faces and adorable giggles, even children can not be presumed innocent.
The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie is a 1923 publication.
Poirot has been frantically summoned to France by Monsieur Paul Renauld. Unfortunat The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie is a 1923 publication.
Poirot has been frantically summoned to France by Monsieur Paul Renauld. Unfortunately, upon arrival, Hastings and Poirot are informed they have arrived too late and Renauld is dead… murdered as it so happens. Pitted against a younger and equally confident detective, Poirot is determined to meet his competition head on, utilizing his advantage of experience to solve the crime.
This is the second Poirot by Agatha Christie and is one I have not read. Christie obviously found inspiration with Holmes and Watson, and one can debate whether this is a homage or a parody, but either way, she did a masterful job with this twisty, complex whodunit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this classic mystery. I was never able to sit back, smugly confident that I had it all figured out. Christie was always at least two steps ahead of me. This is a stunning guessing game, narrated by Hastings, who provides his own unique observations along with his amusing commentary.
Despite its age, and our current desensitization and demand for more shock and awe, I think this story stands on its own merits quite well. (With the exception of a bit of cringe-worthy insta-love)
Christie is very clever, and it is obvious she put much thought into the plot, dotting the I’s and crossing the t’s. I was enthralled by her skill, and it is easy to see why she had such an enormous impact on the mystery genre.
As pure mysteries are few and far between right now, I’m looking to read more classics. Having read Poirot mysteries off and on over the years, I know this one might not rank up there with some of the later installments, but this a smart and impressive gem!!
Triad by Mary Leader is a Hodder & Stoughton Ltd publication.
I’m going to give a very brief review for this book since it is a rare novel and very haTriad by Mary Leader is a Hodder & Stoughton Ltd publication.
I’m going to give a very brief review for this book since it is a rare novel and very hard to find, and if you do find a copy online, it’s going to cost you.
As many of you know, I collect vintage paperbacks and the 'Gothic Horror' novels of 1960's and 70's are of keen interest to me. I love those covers with the girl running away from the house/castle. This novel did not have that type of cover, but it was grouped in with a bulk buy on Ebay many years ago, and got shoved up on a top shelf, buried behind a couple of other layers of books.
I had forgotten all about it, but after reading the recent autobiography of Stevie Nicks, my interest was renewed, because this book was an inspiration for the mega-popular hit ‘Rhiannon'. I had never read the book, so I was very curious to see how it became an inspiration for the song Stevie wrote.
The novel is very typical of its era, but is also ahead of its time, in some ways, even setting the stage for certain trends that would emerge into mainstream consciousness a few years later.
Branwen moves with her husband to an old mansion after the death of their first child. But once they are settled in, Branwen begins to experience blackout periods, where she can’t account for her time or what she did during these blank episodes. Objects have been moved around, and her husband relates conversations and activities they shared, but she has no memory of. But, she is really shaken up when her husband refers to her as ‘Rhiannon’, the name of her long dead cousin.
Already feeling bruised by her loss, the overwhelming job of refurbishing the house, and her desire to have another baby, Branwen’s guilt over Rhiannon’s death, surges as she becomes convinced Rhiannon’s spirit is inhabiting her body, trying to take control, and is seeking retribution.
Of course, it is impossible not to seek out correlations between this book and the famous song that was partially derived from it. I think Stevie did an amazing job with the song and even after all these years, it brings the song and its meanings into sharper focus.
But, this is a review of the book- not the song.
Even if it hadn’t experienced a kind of cult status, this story really is a rare gem. It’s not a very long book, but it’s filled with vivid imageries and is very well versed in Welch mythologies. It is a very effective story, even for a jaded reader like me. I can imagine the impact it would have on readers in 1973.
Once I started reading it, I found myself hypnotized by it. This is a moody, dark, atmospheric supernatural tale, that certainly stands the test of time.
I would love to find a way to petition the publisher to release this one in digital format, so everyone could read it.
If you stumble across this book in a used bookstore or garage sale, snap it up. It’s a really good Gothic horror novel, but it’s also rare, so it could be worth something if it is in decent condition.
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