This is a busy week here at Casa Kittling. The usual-- groceries, laundry, nurse visits, bill paying, blah blah blah-- as well as the procedure on my leg and two followups. (I guess they want to make sure my leg doesn't fall off.) Since it is so busy, I don't have time to sit here and compile lists of links. You'll just have to make do with my thoughts on what I've been reading lately.
If you want to know more about each book, click on the link to Amazon US in the title. I have read more books than this, but some of them aren't available until next month. Here we go!
413 pages
Rating: A
My Thoughts: This is the sixth book in McDermid's Karen Pirie series set in Scotland, and I love it. Karen runs Police Scotland's cold case squad, and she simply will not give up until she finds the truth-- even if it costs her her job.
McDermid had me worried about one of the main characters-- and when you're worrying about a fictional character while you're taking out the trash, you know that's a good thing. There's also a new face in the group, and I'm looking forward to learning more about Daisy Mortimer. Karen's even got some thinking to do about her relationship with the handsome Hamish.
There's a nice twisty mystery in this one that ends with the country going into lockdown due to the pandemic... and this really puts Karen's future in doubt.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
336 pages
Rating: A
My Thoughts: After reading Dorothy's review on her blog, The Nature of Things, I had to get this book.
Three separate timelines (1619, 1942, 2019), three separate women linked by blood and by the common sanctuary that each of them found in an English cottage called Weyward. Each timeline, each character kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know more about them. I wanted to know more about the cottage.
This was a very enjoyable reading experience, and an amazing debut novel. I'll be looking for more of Hart's writing.
329 pages
Rating: A
My Thoughts: I've found myself wanting to spend quite a bit of time in Scotland, and Aline Templeton is one of the best writers to dive right into when I'm in this sort of mood.
This is the third DI Kelso Strang mystery, and it's set in the Scottish Borders. Strang is the head of the Serious Rural Crime Squad, and I really like following him around from place to place (many of which I've at least driven through).
This installment had Strang and his impulsive partner Livvy Murray trying to solve crimes surrounding a world famous author-- an author who has so many secrets she wants kept hidden that it makes the investigation that much harder.
I did have to smile at the name of the weather phenomenon this time: the Beast from the East. It reminded me of a day spent in Cambridge when the lashing winds were straight out of Russia. (*laughing* I just just goosebumps remembering it!)
185 pages
Rating: B+
My Thoughts: This is the second in the long-running Sheriff Dan Rhodes series set in Texas. Originally published in 1987, it mentions Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels a few times-- usually to mention that Rhodes' small bailiwick doesn't have near the amount of "high tech" that the 87th has. (And just imagine how the tech has changed since 1987!)
Rhodes has to sort out his feelings for his girlfriend while he tries to unravel all the knots in this mystery, and I enjoyed following along. Sometimes it's just plain relaxing to have a mystery with no cell phones or forensics, you know?
All the resting I've been forcing myself to do has been paying off, so I'm hopeful that the procedure will go ahead. In the meantime, I'll share a goody from my virtual closet and then head off to my book. Enjoy the weekend, y'all!
Love the T-shirt slogan. So true (mostly). Glad you are resting and reading. I also liked "Still Life." More of the Karen Pirie series to go and also on streaming. Some good book ideas here. Hope your procedure goes off without a hitch. Did you have it or are you still waiting? Best wishes either way. And on to more good reads.
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved Playing Dead. Even more dogs. So many I was losing track of where some of them ended up.
DeleteI really enjoyed being immersed in the world of dogs. I really like this series. I had the procedure, and it seems to have gone well according to the ultrasound that was done a few days later. I just got online to pay bills and reorder bandaging for my leg... and to reply to comments.
DeleteThat really is a great shirt, Cathy. I hope everything's going well with your leg. In the meantime, thanks for sharing the books you've been reading. You can't really go wrong, I think, with a Dan Rhodes mystery or an Aline Templeton novel. And a Val McDermid, too? No wonder your reading's been a bright spot for you.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've really needed a bright spot to distract me from the world outside my door.
DeleteI'm crossing my fingers that your procedure does happen! Keep taking care of yourself and resting that leg. And I loved hearing your thoughts on all of these books. Of course, it also added books and new series to my already crowded TBR list, but that's the bookish life we lead. :D Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a good Thanksgiving, Lark. All seems to be going as planned with my leg. It is finally showing signs of actually healing-- after more than a year!
DeleteI'm hoping that leg procedure either has happened or will happen soon. Have been thinking about you and Denis. Nice books above - haven't read any of them, but have been aware of more than one. Love the t-shirt! Ha! Hope you two have a nice weekend and Thanksgiving week!
ReplyDeleteI hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Kay!
DeleteI'm glad the rest is helping - I've been thinking of you and Denis, and will keep praying for positive developments. Thanks for sharing your reviews, and the great shirt.
ReplyDeleteThose positive developments seem to be rearing their pretty little heads.
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