Stacking the Shelves #41

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

On sale this week for Kindle: $1.99 (I spent zero with my digital points)

I have three books now by this author. The are hard to get for a good price in the States so when they go on sale I buy them. Apparently I need to get started reading them! This book is set in 1485 just as Richard III takes the throne. It follows the story of Grace Plantagenet, illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and therefore a half sister of the Princes in the Tower. She is caught up in the sordid events of the time along with the Perkin Warbeck scandal, the boy claiming to be one of her half brothers. It looks interesting and these covers are beautiful!

Borrowed from Libby: Free (with membership each year of $50)

I had no idea this author had written mysteries, much less a Christmas one. It looks like a crime fiction, Agatha Christie type story and I know Heyer is a wonderful writer so it should be good. I'm hoping to read it before Christmas but my TBR pile is enormous right now. If you've read it let me know if you liked it!

Amazon Kindle Purchase:  (Free with digital points)

I have several books by this author and this is book one in his Marius Quinn mystery series. There are so many cozy mysteries set during the 1920's with female leads and these books have a male one. So I want to read them for a change. He has at least two sets of series that I know of and it's just unusual for a male author with a male lead for these types of books. Getting book one on sale is always a plus too. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Death Takes the Lead by Rosemary Simpson (Gilded Age Mystery Book 9)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm  featuring Death Takes the Lead by Rosemary Simpson. I love mysteries set in the Gilded Age and this author is very popular. I haven't read any of her books yet but would like to. I am happy to promote her new book! Happy reading ya'll :) 

November 26, 2024

Historical Mysteries

Description courtesy of GoodReads:

APRIL 1891: Prudence MacKenzie is delighted to attend a riveting rehearsal of Waif of the Highlands with her dear friend, Lydia Truitt, whose cousin, Septimus Ward, stars in the play. But the drama continues after the curtain falls, as the women overhear a ferocious argument between Septimus and the play’s famous playwright-director, Barrett Hughes.

When confronted about the dispute, Septimus reveals that he actually wrote the script, but allowed Hughes to claim authorship in return for casting Septimus’s paramour, Flora Campbell, in the lead. Septimus has come to regret the agreement and vows to reclaim authorship, even if it means the play never opens. But, days later, Prudence and Geoffrey are urgently summoned to Septimus’s boarding house, where the thespian lays dying in Lydia’s arms.

Lydia believes her cousin’s death is no accident and wants Hunter and MacKenzie Investigative Law to look into the matter, going so far as to help Prudence and Flora secure employment undercover in the play’s wardrobe department. At first, Hughes’s determination to keep the production running seems admirable, but his motives are soon called into question as Prudence hears whispers backstage about his notorious predatory behavior with young women. And when another body turns up at the theatre, it’s clear that someone is targeting the play and its company—but why?

Prudence and Geoffrey must improvise as they tread into an unfamiliar world where deceit is cultivated for entertainment and deception is celebrated as talent, to expose a darkness lurking behind the glittering stage lights. . .

Top Ten Tuesday: Oldest Published Books on my To Be Read List (By Year)

 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl is books on your to be read pile that have the oldest publication dates. What a unique topic! I had fun going into my Kindle and looking on my bookshelf to see what I had. It was not what I'd expected and I'm finding I don't have as much interest in all of them as I did when they were purchased. 

My TBR pile is enormous at this point. I know I'm not alone.  Asking for ten TBR books is impossible with a true book lover as we have a million to sift through. Here is my list as close as I could get (no links or covers due to limited time, just the list for now). I am excited to read other bloggers' lists to compare and see what new titles look interesting!

1. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 1818

2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 1844

3. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell 1854

4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 1873

5. The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart- 1908

6. The Cannon in Residence by Victor Whitechurch 1911

7. The Witness for the Defense by A.E.W. Mason 1914

8. Midwinter Murders by Agatha Christie 1920

9. The Spiral Staircase by Ethel Lina White 1933

10. The Sancturary Sparrow by Ellis Peters 1983

I am sure there are a few more classics and classic mysteries that fell into the list and I missed them but I tried! Happy Reading ya'll :) 

High Treason at the Grand Hotel by Kelly Oliver (Fiona Figg Mysteries Book 2)

 

Publication Date:

January 5, 2021

Length:

276 pages

Summary:

Fiona Figg is back in action, this time in Paris. In book one she disguised herself to find a killer and found she liked playing the part of a man in order to infiltrate circles she couldn't, this being 1917 and all. Tasked with watching the notorious spy, Frederick Fredricks, she goes against her war department rules to watch from a distance. Fiona once again disguises herself to get closer. Unfortunately, she also ends up accused of murder and in her bumbling, stumbling way manages to involve a whole host of others as well. 

There are also many subplots going on. She investigates another seemingly unrelated murder involving a housekeeper, befriends a mysterious, exotic German singer, Mata Hari and continues her romantic flirtation with the soldier she meets in book one. Relying on her instincts often, she manages to unmask the killers, find stolen jewels, and stay one step ahead of Fredericks. She is patient and loyal to her friend, Clifford Douglas, from the War Department who is clearly smitten with her and always there to lend a hand. The romantic feeling isn't mutual but Fiona is appreciative of his help when she is in a jam. Fiona has so many things going on in this book that it is remarkable it all comes together in the end. 

My Thoughts:

This book was complicated. Despite the look of it, it really took some concentration to keep all the characters and subplots straight. Fiona is always witty and funny and endearing but especially so this time. I was surprised at how much the author was able to pack into one story and have it come out making sense. The interaction with Fredericks is entertaining and even though he seems to stay one step ahead of her, she is able to rattle his plans often. The reader is always left a little unsure of where his loyalties lie and since I've already read a book later in the series I know this doesn't change. Perhaps the author is waiting until the end of the series to reveal who he really is and what side he is on. In this book we assume he is the big, bad German spy who is helping to blow up ships during the Great War. But one is not completely convinced. 

I will be continuing with this series as I have really grown to like these characters. There is one more and then it switches to the second set involving Fiona and Kitty, someone she meets along the way. I hope the author continues it for awhile. She also adds some history about WW 1, the setting feels authentic, and convincing. It is a great cozy mystery series!

Can't Wait Wednesday: We Three Queens by Rhys Bowen (A Royal Spyness Mystery Book 18)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm  featuring, We Three Queens by Rhys Bowen. It is part of her hugely successful cozy mystery series, Her Royal Spyness. I have only read the first two books in the series but they are witty and clever mysteries and this one is sure to be a welcome addition. I know her fans who are up to date on the books are excited. I hope you have found something you can't wait to read this week!

November 19, 2024

Historical Mysteries

 

Description courtesy of GoodReads:

New mother Lady Georgiana "Georgie" Rannoch finds herself trying to separate fact from fiction when a murder occurs while a film is being made on the grounds of her estate in a new Royal Spyness Mystery from beloved bestselling author Rhys Bowen.It's late 1936, and King Edward is in turmoil, having fallen in love with the scandalously divorced and even more scandalously American Wallis Simpson. He wants to marry her but knows that doing so will jeopardize his crown. Edward confides in his dear friend Darcy, Georgie's husband, and the couple agree to hide Wallis in their home while Edward figures out what to do. But unbeknownst to Georgie and Darcy, Sir Hubert, the owner of the estate, has given a film crew permission to shoot a motion picture about Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn on the grounds. Trying to keep Mrs. Simpson hidden while raising a newborn baby seems like it couldn't be any more stressful for the Rannochs, until one of the stars of the film is found murdered on set. Georgie must solve the murder for king and country before scandal threatens to envelop them all.

Mystery In Provence by Vivian Conroy (Miss Ashford Investigates Book One)

 

Publication Date:

October 7, 2022

Length:

314 pages 

Summary:

This series takes place in different countries and locations. That is a draw for me in cozy mysteries. I wasn't exactly sure where Provence was but researched a bit and found it to be an interesting location in the heart of France. When the story begins, it is June of 1930 and Miss Atalanta Ashford has just finished a job teaching at a boarding school in Switzerland. She is shocked when she receives news that she has become independently wealthy due to the death of her grandfather and the inheritance she has been given. 

Never having known him, she is even more surprised and overwhelmed. There's one catch though....she may have a beautiful new home in Paris and lots of money but she also is asked to clandestinely continue the secret life of sleuthing that her grandfather conducted without most people's knowledge. He trusts Atalanta to be worthy of this because he has been checking up on her life and her character and feels she shares a lot of his qualities in this area. Atalanta is willing to try although she isn't sure how to begin. A case has fallen to her already when she is asked to investigate the behavior of a young woman's fiance, the Comte de Surmonne. The lady, Eugenie Frontenac is desperate to make sure the man she is marrying isn't a murderer of his first wife. She wants Atalanta to come to their estate in Provence, posing as a lady's maid of sorts during the week of the planned wedding, and find out the truth. 

The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side by Agatha Christie (Miss Marple Mysteries Book 9) Read Christie October 2024 Selection

 

Publication Date:

November 12, 1962

Length:

256 pages 

Summary:

Marina Gregg, a famous American actress has purchased and moved into Gossington Hall estate in St. Mary Mead, Miss Marple's village. Gregg and her husband Jason Rudd hope to settle down and have a quiet life there when not pursuing acting projects. The town is abuzz with the news and when Marina holds a party to raise money for a good cause everyone wants to be there. With a few close friends and neighbors the evening looks to be a success until a guest is murdered, poisoned with a drink handed to her by Marina. 

It becomes unclear whether Heather or Marina was the intended victim. As more clues emerge, Miss Marple isn't so sure either. Heather Badcock, the deceased, was seen talking to Marina right before her death, although at the time no one knows what was said. It was however, reported that Marina had a strange, stricken look upon her face as Heather talked into her ear.  

Stacking the Shelves #40

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

On sale this week for Kindle: $3.99 ($0 with my Kindle digital points)

My daily Book Bub newsletter had these listed for a steal and then when I went to my Amazon page I saw I'd get them for free due to Kindle points. They looked interesting enough and for zero dollars I just couldn't say no! I read up on the author and he has been writing these for awhile. They look a little like Anne Perry style books and I love all of hers. Inspector Ravenscroft is a failed detective who has been dismissed by his colleagues and while on a leave of sorts finds himself once again working a murder case. Each book is a different mystery and just reading the first few pages of book one I was hooked. He reminds me a bit of Perry's William Monk. 

On sale this week for Kindle: Free with my Kindle digital points.

This was in my Early Bird Books newsletter. I think the title caught my eye because I've not seen a cozy series set in Boston before. Most take place in England or New York. It's part of a series called Massachusetts Cozy Mysteries. Each book is set in a different historic area of Massachusetts and I'm always up for learning about new places while solving a mystery. This one looks fun and I'm excited to have book one! It's also a new to me author that I've not read before. 

On sale this week for Kindle: Sample (Very expensive for Kindle so I'm going to try the sample first)

I really want to read this book. And all of this author's books. She was featuring this one on my favorite podcast, Gone Medieval, with author Matt Lewis on their October 3rd episode. (numer 357 if you want to listen to it). I have promoted  books on my blog about Richard II and Henry IV before and I think they are interesting to me because there aren't a whole lot of them. Especially in historical fiction, which I like to read these days more than straight history. This is a history book but is written in a narrative style that makes the facts flow smoothly. 

It is unfortunate that a lot of new books written by UK authors are hard to get here in the U.S. for good prices or at the library. I might have to read the sample and wait a bit for this one.

The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters (Cadfael Chronicles Book 6)

 

Publication Date:

March 10, 2020

Length:

 208 pages

Summary:

Continuing my journey with the adventures of our favorite monk, Brother Cadfael, book 6 has him puzzling out the mystery of missing siblings and a nun last seen traveling north from Worcester fleeing the carnage caused by the ongoing civil war in England between Empress Matilda and King Stephen. Everyone involved that know them are deeply concerned for their welfare with the cold, harsh weather and Cadfael is eager to help. Before he can do so though he gets involved with another crisis. He is asked to come to St. Mary, another church, to assist with medical help for a wounded monk. The monk reveals information while in a state of fever that has Cadfael wondering if he knows something about the missing children and nun. He knows he has to follow up on the task despite the elements and lack of clear direction. They won't last long out there. Although they have an Uncle who cares for them and wants to help, he cannot because he is a supporter of Empress Matilda and is not allowed to enter King Stephen's lands. 

Along with the local deputy sheriff and friend Hugh Beringar, Cadfael sets out on a twisting journey and manages to successfully find one, and then two of them. The third does not fare as well. Cadfael tries to piece together how the trio was separated. The reasons are disturbing and start to reveal an evil crime of passion that shocks all those involved. As they continue to search for answers they come across mercenaries and hardened men who must be dealt with and defeated in order to bring everyone home safely. Cadfael, who desires peace above fighting must put aside his beliefs for the moment to finish the task. 

My Thoughts:

This was one of my favorites from the series. When I started I didn't get hooked right away. But by the first twenty pages or so it became so engaging. I love all the Cadfael books, it's hard not to find something good, but there have been one or two that just didn't have enough of a solid mystery going on to keep me as interested. This book had missing travelers, mysterious visitors, blizzard conditions, fantastic, descriptive fight scenes (which usually bore me but didn't here) and the ending......oh what a twist! Not only was the murderer a surprise, the reason behind the murder was as well. We don't find that out until the very end and it is almost impossible to figure out. Also, Peters added another completely extra surprise that involves Cafael on the last few pages and makes you want to dive into book 7 right away. 

The characters that appear are given interesting back stories. The children come from a noble family and the "virgin in the ice" has her own story to tell from the grave that weaves into the bigger picture. Even the men who are fighting against them and are kidnappers and not good people held my interest with their side stories. This is one of the series that will likely make you want to keep reading. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Yesterday's Paper (The Knocknashee Story Book 2)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm  featuring, Yesterday's Paper by Jean Grainger. I have not read anything by this author but this is the second book in what looks like an interesting historical drama. It is set in Ireland and the United States on the eve of World War II. 

Amazon has book one listed as number 1 in Irish Historical Fiction. Of course reading book one is first on the agenda but I'm all about promoting authors so if you've read book one go get this one. I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week!

November 10, 2024

Historical Fiction

Description courtesy of GoodReads

As the world teeters on the brink of war in 1937, two people separated by an ocean are about to discover a connection that defies logic and time.

Eighteen-year-old Grace Fitzgerald, a fiery-haired dreamer, longs to escape the confines of life in her windswept Dingle fishing village. Across the Atlantic, Richard Lewis, heir to a Savannah banking fortune, suffocates under the weight of expectations that feel more like a cage than a crown.

When their worlds collide through a twist of fate, Grace and Richard uncover a bond so profound it shakes the very foundations of their existence. As Europe inches towards chaos, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of discovery, challenging everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.

From the rugged Irish coastline to the genteel streets of Georgia, 'Lilac Ink' weaves a tapestry of connection, friendship and learning against the ominous backdrop of impending global conflict. Grace and Richard must navigate not only their impossible bond but also the turbulent waters of family expectations, social norms, and their own conflicting desires.

This emotional journey through time and place will leave you questioning the idea of fate and the extraordinary power of human connection. In a world being torn apart, can two young people find a way to be true to themselves and to each other?"