Reading for 2018 - June

[desertvixen]

Kindle books: I read 23 and deleted 19, but added 32.  That brings me out 12 ahead.

A Case of Blackmail in Belgravia  by Clara Benson – Light 1930s mystery with a slightly bumbling aristocratic sleuth.  Very enjoyable.

Before Midnight by Rex Stout – A pretty standard Nero Wolfe involving a perfume company mystery.

Double, Double  by Ellery Queen – Another mystery brings Ellery to Wrightsville.

Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout – The first Nero Wolfe mystery.  Luckily not my first or I might not have kept going.

Fly Paper and Other Stories: Continental Op by Dashiell Hammett – Short stories involving Hammett’s unnamed detective.  The collection is pretty good, but a few of the stories are standouts, especially a “kidnap” that is actually a murder.

Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex  by Rachel Bussel – Pretty much what it says on the cover.  Probably half of them were really enjoyable.

Green for Danger by Christianna Brand – One of the early Cockerill mysteries, and very good.  WW2 setting is very realistic based on her own experiences, with a good twist at the end.

Inspector Queen's Own Case by Ellery Queen – Inspector Queen has his own mystery and romance.

Murder at Feathers and Flair by Lee Strauss – Light cozy mystery.  Okay read but I don’t believe I’ll be reading any more.

Murder at the Mortuary by Lee Strauss – The follow-on to the book above, all still applies. The romance subplot is a little overwrought, and the author is way into period dress details.

Over My Dead Body by Rex Stout – The mystery involving a girl who claims to be Nero Wolfe’s daughter.  Very good read, complete with Balkan intrigues.

Sweet Danger (Campion) by Margery Allingham – A good outing with Campion and pals helping some people in need (yes, including beautiful young women).

TCW Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun – An early book, chiefly notable for introducing us to Yum Yum.  The mystery is enjoyable.

The Bishop's Son by Kelly Irvin – Amish triangle romance, decent but not excellent.

The Cat Who Had 14 Tales by Lilian Jackson Braun – Collection of short stories.  “The Sin of Madame Phloi” still makes me cry, and the fare is definitely starker than The Cat Who mysteries.  Two of the stories are connected (including the story of Tipsy the cat of Tipsy’s Tavern) to the series.  “East Side Story” also jerks some tears, and “A Cat Named Conscience” has a sad end to the cat.  There’s also one story where the cat sends an abusive husband to his death. 

The Flowers of Vashnoi  by Lois McMaster Bujold – A short story focused on Ekaterin’s work in the district.  Very enjoyable and demonstrates that Miles is not the only plotter in the group.  Enrique Borgos is also delightful in it.

The Great Mistake by Mary Roberts Rinehart – Another mystery told flashback style, with a lot of “If I had known”.  Gets a little tedious.

The Happy Hollisters and Haunted House by Jerry West – Better than the first outing with the Hollisters, involves a circus and missing family members.

The League of Frightened Men by Rex Stout – A group of (rightfully) frightened men who fear revenge seek Wolfe’s assistance.  They don’t quite get what they bargained for.

The Prisoner of Limnos  by Lois McMaster Bujold – More of Penric and Desdemona’s adventures, with him possibly getting closer to an understanding with Nikys.  The other brother introduced is quite interesting.

Trio for Blunt Instruments by Rex Stout – Nero Wolfe short stories, including him solving the murder of his shoe-polisher.

Twelve Recipes  by Cal Peternell – A chef father’s cookbook of basics for his son.  Very good.

Who Pays the Piper by Patricia Wentworth – A precursor to the Miss Silver Mysteries, featuring a detective sergeant Abbot who’s learning the trade.  Very good read.

Dead Tree Reading: 14 books read, but 5 were new acquisitions.  I did however discard 25 books from the pile and 12 newer ones.  I'll post a picture of the book pile in August to capture the first 6 months of progress.

AG Mystery (R):The Crystal Ball by Jacqueline D Greene – Pretty good American Girls Mystery title, solution is pretty obvious to an adult reader but well-done.

Pyewacket by Rosemary Weir – Interesting children’s book about a group of cats who get rid of their owners so they can rule the neighborhood and end up as watchcats.  It’s very good and I was afraid it was going to have some sad, but nothing lasting.

To The Stars, Isabelle by Laurence Yep – American Girls title, better than the first one.

BSC M #21 Claudia and the Recipe for Danger by Ann M. Martin – BSC members in a cooking contest.  It’s pretty good, especially if you’re a Mary Anne fan.

GS Senior: Sow What Journey Guide Adults by GSUSA – Doing some research for the future.  This one looks interesting, deals with food networks. (new)

Dallas: Complete Story of World's Favorite Prime-Time Soap by Barbara Curran, Barbara – Pretty much what the title implies, worth a peruse. (new)

Haunted Texas by Alan Brown – Good look at haunted places in Texas.  Originally bought to read while sight-seeing.  (new)

100 Things to Do in San Antonio Before You Die by Denise Richter – Good list of possible activities and things to do here in San Antonio.  Got some good ideas!

JB #33: The Secret Quest by Margaret Sutton – Good outing with Judy Bolton in the Applewood reprint series.  One of the few “grown up” ones that I’ve actually enjoyed.  Although the part where Judy matures and changes is interesting, I feel like some of the “grown up” plots are a little thin.

Fairy Tail Master's Collection 1 by Hiro Mashima – The first five volumes (of 63) of the series, collected with notes.  I super-enjoyed the show and need MOAR while I wait.

AG Mystery (K) Intruders at Rivermead Manor by Kathryn Reiss – American Girls mystery, good read.  The mystery works and the family subplot is nice.

Rosemary: Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson – Good look at Rosemary Kennedy and how her disability was handled, fairly even-handed.

Medea and Other Plays by Euripedes – Greek tragedies (Medea, Hecuba, Electra, and Heracles) in a decent translation.

Dallas: Complete Family Saga by Laura Van Wormer – Look at the Dallas story like the characters were real people.  Keeping mostly for the pictures and the fandom aspect.