The Solstice - Matt Brolly

 The Solstice - Matt Brolly

Pub. Date: Sept. 17, 2024

She read

When the bones of a child are discovered deep inside a cave, the occult behaviors of a quasi environmental commune are exposed.  Is human sacrifice a part of their rituals?  With the solstice fast approaching, DI Blackwell and her new partner race against time to uncover their secrets and save the life of another child.This case sees the return to work after maternity leave for Louise and with the pressures of child care and the case, she has some personal decisions to make.

This is the seventh in the DI Louise Blackwell series.  Although it is the fourth one I have read, it does work as a standalone. It is yet another fast paced, well plotted addition to the series.

I like the character of Louise, a strong female leader. Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy this book and want to read some of the prior in the series  

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasandMercer for the DRC.

*****

How to Piss Off Men - Kyle Prue

 How to Piss Off Men - Kyle Prue

Pub. Date: Sept. 17, 2024

She read

Written by an author/comedian and subtitled 109 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego, this short book is filled with questions, quips and retorts to help combat toxic masculinity, along with commentary by the writer.  

Given the title, how could I resist this selection?  A very quick read, it had me repeatedly laughing out loud and I have to say it takes something very good to make me do that.  A humorous break from some of the heavier reading I have been doing, it was a delightful read. I am going to try to remember some of the lines and hope I get to use them sometime.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Sourcebooks for the DRC.

*****

Death at the Sanatorium - Ragnar Jónasson

 Death at the Sanatorium - Ragnar Jónasson

Pub. Date: Sept. 10, 2024

She Read

In 1983, a nurse was murdered at a former TB sanatorium in northern Iceland.  With a staff of only 5, who did it?  When the chief physician appears to have jumped to his death, he is considered to have been the perpetrator and the case closed.

Twenty nine years later a criminology student who has served as a police officer is using the events for his graduate dissertation.  As he reaches out to the surviving staff, all may not appear as it seemed back then and danger lurks.

This is the third book I have read by Jónasson and I have liked all of them.  Told in three timelines from various POVs, this Nordic Noir is highly readable, atmospheric, and engrossing. And, oh that ending!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress #Minotaur for the DRC.

*****

A Seaside Murder - Alice Castle

 A Seaside Murder - Alice Castle

Pub. Date: Sept. 5, 2024

She read

When I saw that this was only the second in a new cozy mystery series set along the English coastline, I couldn’t resist. It takes place in a fictional seaside town where GP Dr. Sarah Vane has retired and fancies herself an amateur sleuth.  When Sarah discovers the murdered body of beloved young teacher Adi Moffat on the doorstep of her best friend, Daphne's shop, she is hot on the trail of the killer, enlisting the help of Daphne and possible romantic interest, Charles.

A fast, engrossing read, with twists and some red herrings, the perpetrator is not immediately obvious. Castle paints a perfect picture of a quaint, seaside village and its denizens.  I really enjoyed the humor and quirky characters in the story. Bonuses are the anthropomorphic dog, Hamish and the terror of a cat, Mephisto. And, of course, there are the requisite tea and biscuits. 

Thanks to #Netgalley and @bookouture for the DRC.

****

Vincent van Gogh - Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

 Vincent van Gogh - Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Pub. Date: Sept. 3, 2024

She read

From the Little People, BIG DREAMS series, this is a biography of Vincent Van Gogh for children.  Beautifully illustrated in the style of Van Gogh, it gives an overview of his life and is comprehensive enough that adults may learn a bit about the artist.  

The book approaches the issue of the emotional difficulties Van Gogh experienced in a sensitive manner and ends on a positive note. I liked the emphasis on brotherly love and support and that even when we are troubled, we can find joy.

The back pages have more information and would be suitable for parents discussing with younger children or older children reading and learning on their own.  A resource is provided where one can read more information about the artist and, of course, mentions the wonderful Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @QuartoKids for the DRC.

*****

Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Strout

 Tell Me Everything - Elizabeth Strout

Pub. Date: Sept. 10, 2024

He and she read

In the continuing tale of Lucy Barton, it is post covid time and she is still living in Maine with her former husband, William. As she goes about her daily activities, she interacts with familiar characters like Bob Burgess and Olive Kitteridge and we meet new people in her life. It is about “people and the lives they lead.” What does anyone’s life mean?

This is another beautiful novel…well thought out and written.  Strout is a gifted writer whose characters are idiosyncratic and delightful. This is about the living of life, particularly “unrecorded” lives, in all its poignancy.  There is sadness, joy, despair, hope. Written with humor and pathos, Strout, through Lucy and her other characters, is profound in her simple observations.  And yet there is also a reflection of the larger world and the divided country in which we now live.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @RandomHouse for the DRC.

He also really liked it.

Death at the Sign of the Rook - Kate Atkinson

 Death at the Sign of the Rook - Kate Atkinson

Pub. Date: Sept. 3, 2024

She   read

Private investigator Jackson Brodie has been hired by a brother and sister to find a painting stolen from the home of their recently deceased mother. 

DC Reggie Chase has been looking into an earlier theft of an another painting. Could the thefts be related? A murder mystery weekend has been planned at Rook Hall, a wing of the once majestic now a bit downtrodden Burton Makepeace. When a snowstorm ensues, these two detectives as well as others including the local vicar, a former major who has lost his leg in battle, an acting troupe and other invited and uninvited guests converge for a rollicking evening of mystery and crime.

This story is fast paced, entertaining, humorous, a bit farcical. I really enjoy Atkinson’s sharp wit and amusing characters. There are a few different storylines that come together and a large cast of players. This is a cozy mystery joyride with kind of a Knives Out vibe to it.

The sixth of the Jackson Brodie series, it is the second I have read.  It works well as a standalone.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #DoubledayBooks for the DRC.

****