Category Archives: Currently Reading

Currently Reading

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This week I read the fourth of Amanda Flower’s Mystery Bookshop series: Verse and Vengeance. Another charming cozy from this author. In this one, the P.I. Joel Redding, is murdered during. a bike race. Violet’s student Jo is involved – somehow – as well as her brother and her boss.

At the same time, Violet’s Grandmother, now the mayor of Cascade Springs, has begun transforming the village hall into a museum.

And for those readers interested in Violet’s love life, her relationship is moving forward, although in fits and starts.

Whitman’s poetry is an integral part of this mystery and like good fiction, it inspired me to actually read some of his poetry.

The second book I read this past week was Death Rang the Bell by Carol Pouliot. Death Rang the Bell is the third, so far, in this series. It has an interesting premise; Olivia, the main character, sees a strange man in her bedroom. They discover he is a police detective in 1934 (she is in 2021), the house allows them to time travel from 1934 to the Olivia’s time and back again.

In this offering, the owner of a large department store is found murdered. His estranged wife and son are the first suspects. Pouliot includes a number of details about 1934. By now, Olivia and Stephen have learned how to cross over and live in each other’s times. The big question remains: how will they manage to carry on their relationship when they come from two different times.

Currently Reading – Amanda Flower

After seeing a talk by Amanda Flower, I was inspired to read several of her books. I chose the Magic Bookshop series.

In Crime and Poetry, the first of the series, Violet Waverley is called home by her grandmother who claims she is dying. On Violet’s arrival in Cascade Springs, she discovers her grandmother is not dying and her claim was, in fact a ploy to lure Violet home. After the death of her best friend twelve years previously, Violet had left, swearing to never return. But the Waverley women are tasked with protecting the magical birch tree that grows through the shop and now it is time for Violet to take on that responsibility.

Her old flame, Nathan Morton, is now the mayor and he shows signs of wishing to re-kindle their romance. The new chief of police, David Rainwater, is another suitor for Violet’s affections.

Shortly after Violet’s arrival, her grandmother’s love interest is murdered and Violet dives into the investigation.

Pros and Cons takes place at Halloween and this time Violet’s best friend Sadie is accused of the murder of another member of the Red Inkers, the writing group. All the evidence points at Sadie but Violet is determined to clear her friend and find the true murderer.

The third I have read of the five, Murders and Metaphors, concerns the murder of a famous sommelier and author who is conducting a signing at the local Morton winery. I was inspired by this title to research ice wine, which I have heard of but never tasted.

Do I plan to read the final two in this series? I certainly do. The murders are not true whodunits, but the setting in this small town and the bookshop is absolutely charming and I really enjoy the sparkling characters. Although I do not usually care for cozies, these are delightful

Currently Reading

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One of the truisms of mystery writers in that most of us, probably all, are big mystery readers. I read an average of three books a week. I thought, on this page, I would give you my thoughts on the books I’ve read during the week.

9/30/21. In the past week, I read three books, all very different.

Ice and Stone, by Marcia Muller, is the latest Sharon McCone. Although written pre-pandemic, it is quite timely.

McCone is hired to investigate the disappearances and murders of three Native American women. Considering that I read this at the height of the buzz about Gabby Petito, and the discussions about the many women of color who disappear without a similar furor, I found the topic riveting. Inequality and the entitlement of the wealthy, racism, and the plight of the fictional triple are all part of the setting. The plot was a little convoluted but Muller is a good writer and I was enthralled right to the end. Definitely recommended.

A Darker Reality is Anne Perry’s latest Elena Standish. I’ve read all three and enjoyed them but this is the weakest of the lot.

Elena and her parents travel to Washington, D.C. for her grandparents’ sixtieth wedding anniversary. One of the guests is murdered and Elena’s grandfather is accused. Elena and her family work tirelessly to prove his innocence. The mystery is set pre-WWII and delineates American Nazi sympathizers. I’ve enjoyed all of Perry’s series through the years and she is a good writer but I found this one somewhat preachy.

Bloodless by Preston and Child was the third book this week. Frankly, I have mixed feelings about the Preston and Child oeuvre. The writing style is pedestrian and the books vary widely in quality. This one was even more fantastic than most. It ended with a cliffhanger so we will see where these writers go next.