Showing posts with label June 2020. Show all posts
Showing posts with label June 2020. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Hog's Back Mystery (1933) by Freeman Wills Crofts
Beneath the Stains of Time: The Hog's Back Mystery (1933) by Freeman Wills Crofts: Freeman Wills Crofts was one of the earlier Golden Age mystery writers and he was among the first whose work was resurrected in the ear...
Monday, June 29, 2020
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix: Reviewed by Christy Amy works for a big box furniture store called ORSK that she considers a low-rate IKEA. A college dropout who ...
Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: The Great Darkness by Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly is
uniquely qualified to write detective fiction: His father was a chief detective
superintendent in the London Metropolitan Police Force and his grandfather was
a justice of the peace and a special constable. These unassailable credentials
give him nearly a century of first-hand experience and history to draw from. He
initially wrote for a number of newspapers and then turned to fiction. His first book, The Water Clock,
was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Award, and he has since won a CWA
Dagger in the Library and the New Angle Prize for Literature.
His first
series showcased a journalist in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England; the second is a
police procedural set in Norfolk. His latest series is a historical set in
Cambridge, England, during the first few months of World War II. Detective
Inspector Eden Brooke is a nighthawk. Plagued with insomnia from injuries
sustained during the first war, he often walks the streets of Cambridge,
watching and listening to others who are abroad in the night. He is taking a
forbidden swim in the River Cam when he hears a group of soldiers digging a
pit. Why they are on maneuvers in the dark is a question he wants answered,
since the countrywide blackout, the great darkness, is in effect. He asks
questions the next day at work without receiving satisfactory answers.
His attention
is soon diverted when a visiting American
scientist, Dr. Ernst Lux, on assignment at the University, dies in what seems
to be a bizarre accident involving the netting of a stray barrage balloon. Only
Brooke notices that Lux’s shoes are on the wrong feet and becomes convinced the
death is not an accident. This leads him to the clandestine group of young men
known as night climbers, who indulged in a risk-laden practice of scaling
chapels, towers, and other tall buildings. If discovered, they were sure to be
expelled from the university, which appeared to only lend spice to their
efforts.
While Brooke
searches for answers to the death of Dr. Lux, he continues to ask about the soldiers
on night patrol and is sidelined by the daily reports of new crime in the city.
The war has taken every able young man, and the police force is woefully
understaffed. Brooke juggles a workload meant for multiple people, just like
everyone else left at home does.
Atmospheric
portrayal of historic Cambridge and the general anxiety over oncoming war wafts
off the page. Brooke is an engaging character, not the usual loner cop but one
with friends and a strong family connection. A promising start to a series set
in an intriguing time and place. Recommended.
·
Hardcover: 352 pages
·
Publisher: Allison &
Busby; British First edition (February 15, 2018)
·
Language: English
·
ISBN-10: 0749021616
·
ISBN-13: 978-0749021610
Aubrey Hamilton ©2020
Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects
by day and reads mysteries at night.
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Beneath the Stains of Time: Food for Thought: "Dead of Winter" (2007) by Cathe...
Beneath the Stains of Time: Food for Thought: "Dead of Winter" (2007) by Cathe...: Catherine Mambretti is a former college professor and, among other things, a scholar of 17th century literature and an expert in manuscr...
Mystery Fanfare: SUMMERTIME MYSTERIES
Mystery Fanfare: SUMMERTIME MYSTERIES: Summertime , and the living is easy. Or is it? So many mysteries taking place during Summer are filled with murder and mayhem -- on the B...
Saturday, June 27, 2020
KRL Update: KRL This Week for 6/27/2020
Up in KRL this morning
reviews and giveaways of 6 mysteries for your summer reading-"Death by
Auction": An Abby McCree Mystery by Alexis Morgan, "Marshmallow
Malice": Amish Candy Shop Mystery by Amanda Flower, "Murder She Wrote
The Murder of Twelve" by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land, "And the Killer
Is… "A Savannah Reid Mystery by G.A. McKevett, "Antiques Fire
Sale": A Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery by Barbara Allan, and "Murder in
Galway":
Home to Ireland Mystery
by Carlene O'Connor
Also a review and
giveaway of "Divide and Concord" by JC Eaton, along with an interview
with J.C.
And the latest mystery
Coming Attractions from Sunny Frazier along with a giveaway of "Still
Knife Painting" by Cheryl Hollon
And to interview mystery
podcasts, in honor of Pride we decided to interview Brad Shreve and Gay Mystery
Podcast this week
For those who prefer to
listen to Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast directly on KRL, here you can find the
latest episode which features the mystery short story "Vengeance in
Cadmium Blue" by Margaret Mendel read by Ariel Linn
During the week we
posted another fun midweek special guest post, this one by mystery author Edith
Maxwell where she talks about her new book, "Nacho Average Murder",
research, and Oz. You can also enter to win a copy of the book
And another one by
mystery author Maggie Toussaint where she talks about summer fun and her latest
book "Seas the Day." You can also enter to win a copy of the book
Up on KRL News and
Reviews this week we have a review and ebook giveaway of
"Gossip in the
Garden" by Kathi Daley
And a review and
giveaway of "Killing Time" by Suzanne Trauth
And a review and
giveaway of "Rigged" by DP Lyle
Happy reading,
Lorie
SleuthSayers: What Went Wrong – (and pass the Scotch) by Melodie Campbell
SleuthSayers: What Went Wrong – (and pass the Scotch): My friend and colleague John Floyd has inspired me many times, but this time for a singularly bizarre post: Things that go wrong in the lif...
Scott's Take: Batman Universe by Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Derington
Batman Universe by Brian Michael Bendis and Nick
Derington is a hunt to recover stolen loot. The Riddler has stolen a Faberge
Egg on behalf of the immortal Vandal Savage. Batman’s quest to recover the egg
from The Riddler and his allies will require Batman to enlist the help of Green
Lantern, Green Arrow, and others. As part of his quest, he must uncover the secrets
of the Faberge Egg and that means he has to learn more about the original owner,
the legendary gunslinger, Jonah Hex. Batman will travel across space and time
to places such as Thanagar, Dinosaur Island (an island full of dinosaurs that
exists in the DC universe), Gorilla City (a city ruled by super advanced
Gorillas), and more.
There is
plenty of action, mystery, and humor to be found in this book. As Batman moves forward
in his quest, Alfred makes various witty observations with his usual sarcasm. The
artwork is very colorful and varied and is a visual treat to look at as one
reads Batman Universe.
My one
criticism about this book applies to everything Bendis writes is that he writes
dialogue in his own unique way of talking. For example, Character 1 “What is?”
Character 2 “Bendis speak?” Character 1 “Yes, tell me about Bendis speak.”
Character 2 “Bendis speak is when one person talks in short clipped sentences…”
Character 1 “With interruptions that are supposed to.” Character 2 “Normal
conversations.” Character 1 “That People have in real…” Character 2 “Life.”
This can make some of the dialogue clunky and unnatural sounding. Hopefully, I
did a good job of explaining the way Bendis writes. His dialogue is not for
everyone, but this is one of his better books dialogue wise.
If you are looking for a fun Batman book that does not
require one to be up to date on the status quo of the current Batman books this
is the one for you. Batman Universe by Brian Michael Bendis and
Nick Derington is perfect for new readers as well as long term Batman
readers.
My reading copy came from the Grauwyler Park Branch of the Dallas Library System and was picked up thanks to “Curbside to Go.”
Scott A.
Alexander ©2020
Friday, June 26, 2020
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones: Reviewed by Kristin Sunshine Vicram is about to have a very bad day. It’s her first day as sheriff of her hometown of Del Sol, N...
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