Reading Right Now:

               “Winter Break” by Merry Jones is proving a slower read for me than the first two novels in the Harper Jennings series (which started with “Summer Session”). But I still love the characters and there is certainly a lot going on. I am surprised that Jones already has the fourth novel in the series coming out in July 2013 (“Inside Eden” which sounds very exciting).  On her website, Jones says “all my books deal with some common themes. Each of them, even the humor books, focus on the unexpected aspects of life, roles and relationships. Suspense lies not just in not knowing what lurks in the cellar, but also in not knowing what lurks in the world around us, our romances, and our own subconscious minds. My characters, like the rest of us, never know what lies ahead.” An interesting viewpoint and a fine series—well worth reading.

On Hold Right Now:

               “Deadly Sting” by Jennifer Estep  just came out. I have consumed each of the Elemental Assassin novels and this is the 8^th (with the 9^th coming out in August). If you want to read this series, you should start with “Spider’s Bite.”  The main character is Gin Blanco, a touch, smart, strong, female character who happens to be a magical assassin. Even though she is an assassin, she manages to do a lot of good and as her character develops she is becoming more and more powerful.

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TV Action:

               I finally caught up with the first two seasons of “Game of Thrones.” I know everyone else is way ahead of me! I like the series—full of action, nudity, violence, passion, and complicated plot twists. Now I’m ready for the new season starting at the end of March, 2013 on HBO. Everyone knows by now that the series is based on George R. R. Martin’s series of books called “Song of Ice and Fire” and the first book in the series is “A Game of Thrones.” Take a look at his website to get a peak at what a unique and imaginative character Martin is (georgerrmartin.com).

Reading right now:

            “The Bughouse Affair” by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini takes place in 1890s San Francisco and is centered around the PI firm of Carpenter and Quincannon. John Quincannon is an ex-Secret Service agent and Sabina Carpenter is a former Pinkerton operative, together they form a partnership that gets them involved with murder. This is actually the fourth in the series with John Quincannon by Bill Pronzini which started with the book “Quincannon.” These are two really great mystery authors and so far I am really enjoying “Bughouse” and may have to go back to the beginning and read the whole series.

On hold right now:

            “A Study in Revenge” by Kieran Shields came out in January and looks like fun. The problem is that it seems to be the second book in what I assume is a series with Deputy Archie Lean which takes place in Portland, Maine, in 1893. The first book is “The Truth of All Things” so I guess I’ll have to find that first and start there. It looks like the books have paranormal/occult elements and involve witches.

Other Mysterious things:

            I finally started watching “Game of Thrones” an HBO series that I’ve been hearing about for some time, but haven’t watched until this past weekend. I caught up with season one and am hooked. No wonder so many people are going back to read the series of Science Fiction books by George R. R. Martin which the series is based on.

Reading right now:

            “Guilt” by Jonathan Kellerman has it all: new murders, old murders, baby skeletons, unhappy housewives, and L.A. “Guilt” is the 28^th novel in the series that features Alex Delaware, a psychiatrist with a talent for solving murders with LAPD Lt. Milo Sturgis. Like his character, Kellerman is a psychiatrist and his first published book was a medical text (“Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer”).  It must be difficult to keep a long time series fresh and exciting especially after 28 books! But if you like the main character (or the group of characters that return in each novel), each book is like visiting an old friend. And each new book about Delaware and Sturgis is like that for me. I look forward to finding out what they are doing and how their lives have changed.

On hold right now:

            “Six Years” by Harlan Coben which isn’t a part of any series, but a stand-alone novel about a man who finds out that everything he thought was true about the woman he loves isn’t true and his new knowledge puts his life in danger. Sounds very exciting.

            There are several other new books coming out in March including: Joyce Carol Oates’ “The Accursed,” Thomas Perry’s “The Boyfriend,” Jacqueline Winspear’s “Leaving Everything Most Loved,” Rhys Bowen’s “The Family Way,” Laura Childs’ “Sweet Tea Revenge,” and Clive Cussler’s “The Striker.” Sounds like it’s going to be a good month.

Reading right now:

           

Hannah Jayne’s latest (“Under the Gun”) is funny, suspenseful, and entertaining. “Under the Gun” is number four in her Underworld Detection Agency series. Jayne’s books include a mystery element, along with the paranormal. Paranormal mysteries may not be for everyone, but they are a growing genre and I find lots of them really fun to read. Try one, you might like it!

On hold right now:

            “The Bughouse Affair” by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini (which is an intriguing combination of authors) is the fourth book in the John Quincannon series. Set in 1890s San Francisco, this series revolves around former Pinkerton operative Sabina Carpenter and her detective partner, ex-Secret Service agent John Quincannon. Both Muller and Pronzini are well known and prolific mystery authors.

On TV:

            “Banshee” is a red hot TV series on Cinemax. In the opening episode, an ex-con assumes the identity of the new Sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, where he dispenses justice of a sort, has sex with many women in town, participates in extremely violent situations, hides out from the violent criminal who wants his diamonds back, and continues his illicit attempts to get rich. In other words, it’s great.

Reading right now:

“Blood Lance” by Jeri Westerson.  “Blood Lance” is the latest installment in the Medieval mystery series featuring disgraced former knight Crispin Guest. Trying to survive while living under the cloud of being convicted of Treason isn’t easy for Guest, but his gift for tracking down lost items and bad guys keeps a roof over his head. “Veil of Lies” was the first book in this series with “Blood Lance” being the sixth. Each of the books have been really good and left me wanting to follow Guest’s adventures in the future.

Los Angeles native Jeri Westerson has won several awards for the books in her Crispin Guest series.  She can also be found touring the county giving lectures on her collection of medieval weaponry. While her character Crispin may live in the Middle Ages, he has a Facebook page and a blog in modern times (must be a time travel Dr. Who kind of thing!).

 

 

Food Or Books?

On hold right now:

I just picked up my hold “Winter Break” by Merry Jones. This is the third book in her Harper Jennings series (“Summer Session” was the first).  Harper is a Iraqi war veteran with PTSD and a talented amateur sleuth.

A few authors with new books out in February include: Avery Aames (“To Brie or Not to Brie),  Alan Bradley (“Speaking from Among the Bones”), Sheila Connolly (“Buried in a Bog”), Deborah Crombie (“The Sound of Broken Glass”), and Joanne Fluke (Red Velvet Cupcake Murder).

 

Reading right now:

               I’m thrilled to have finally received “Fonduing Fathers” by Julie Hyzy. This is the sixth book in her White House Chef series. I love the main character, Chef Olivia Paras, who is tough, determined, loves her job, and is really good at what she does. The books always include recipes at the end. Usually Chef  Paras is dealing with threats to White House security, but in “Fonduing Fathers” she tackles finding out the truth about her father’s murder. Hyzy writes another series and other mysteries, but I have only read the White House Chef series and would really recommend it.

Culinary mysteries focus on food and death in equal parts. There are many amazing authors writing these terrifically fun books including Diane Mott Davison, Robin Allen, Ellen Hart, Phyllis C. Richman, Mary Jane Clark, and Jessica Beck (to name just a few). If you want to change it up just a bit, watch the fantastic BBC TV series which turns it all around and has the policeman trying to fulfill his dream of being a chef by running a restaurant on the side.

On hold right now:

               “Airtight” by David Rosenfelt. I am not thrilled that this is a standalone instead of part of his Andy Carpenter series, but I’ve enjoyed his standalones so hopefully this one will be good. The Andy Carpenter series is just so great—funny and exciting—and he is involved in rescuing dogs! The book comes out in February and I noticed that a new Andy Carpenter book is scheduled for July (so feel better already).

 

There are many good books for helping you train your dog, but the ones on various tricks or activities you can teach are helpful to give you ideas on how to play with your dog productively.

 

 

 

Reading right now:

“A Death in the Small Hours” by Charles Finch is the latest in his outstanding Charles Lenox mystery series. This is the sixth installment which started with “A Beautiful Blue Death.” Since the beginning of the series, Lenox has gone from detective to member of Parliament. But no matter what his official career solving mysteries remains a major part of his life. In this new installment, Lenox attempts to get away from it all by visiting his uncle in Somerset. He is hoping to write an important speech in the quiet village of Plumbley, but a series of strange vandalisms distracts him from his goal.

Finch is an American author who went to school in England and now lives in England. His books are Historical mysteries set in Victorian times which means he joins such greats as Anne Perry, Phys Bowen, David Dickinson, Carole Douglas, Ray Harrison, and many other authors with a mystery series set in the Victorian era.

The Victorian era is a popular setting for many mystery writers. It was the time of Queen Victoria’s rule in the United Kingdom from 1837-1901. It was a period of prosperity and peace for Britain which citizens started talking about trying to make the world a better place for children and those in poverty by providing justice and better working conditions. It was also a time of tremendous scientific progress and ideas. Gas lighting became widespread, London acquired a sewage system, Charles Darwin published “On the Origins of Species,” photography was realized, Sigmund Freud started modern Psychiatry, Louis Pasteur’s work verified germs existed, and on it went ushering in the “Modern World.”

One of my favorite authors whose books are set in this era is Anne Perry. She has been writing her Thomas Pitt series since 1979 and the William Monk series since 1990. They are engaging, entertaining, and very much influenced by the changes taking place in the Victorian Era. I would also recommend Caleb Carr’s “The Alienist” which is set in the Victorian period.

On hold right now:

Looking forward to Robert Crais’ “Suspect” coming out 1/22/13. This isn’t an Elvis Cole or a Joe Pike book, but a standalone novel which involves an LAPD cop – with a dog! I also have “Winter Break” by Merry Jones on hold which came out 1/1/13. “Winter Break” is the third in the Harper Jennings series. Harper is an Iraqi war veteran with PTSD whose life is often complicated by murder. This is an amazing new series well worth your time.