Kittling: Books

Have a Great Weekend, Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Evenings at Home by Deborah DeWit

The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Title: The Dark Vineyard
Author: Martin Walker
ISBN: 9780307454713
Publisher: Vintage, 2011
Paperback, 336 pages
Genre: Police Procedural, #2 Bruno, Chief of Police mystery set in southern France
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased at Barnes and Noble.

First Line: The distant howl of the siren atop the mairie broke the stillness of the French summer night.

The fire could have been a disaster for everyone in the area, but fortunately the fire crew performed their jobs quickly and well. With the ruins still smoking, Bruno-- the Chief of Police of the small village of St. Denis in southern France-- is left with a mystery. You see... officially the building that burned down does not exist. When Bruno begins investigating, he learns that it is an agricultural station that is working on genetically modified crops.

When Bruno starts checking into local environmentalists who might've set the fire, he learns that he has another potential problem on his hands. Max, a young local environmentalist who wants to make organic wine and Fernando, the heir to an American wine fortune are rivals for the same woman-- a young flirtatious Canadian student. But this affaire de coeur is soon overshadowed by two suspicious deaths. Bruno definitely has his hands full.

This charming series is one in which the mystery often takes a backseat to the characters and the setting. The mystery is interesting, not because the reader needs to put a lot of effort into identifying the person responsible, but because the motivations are what must be uncovered. But while the motivations are being deduced, there is so much of Bruno and the village life of St. Denis to be savored!

Bruno is an excellent policeman because he is involved completely in the life of St. Denis. The mayor keeps him informed and a part of the business of trying to keep a small village alive and vibrant so the inhabitants won't be forced to move away to find jobs. Bruno is a part of the many traditions of St. Denis. He also coaches tennis and rugby teams. Bruno is most definitely not an absentee caretaker, and his local knowledge is invaluable when solving any type of case.

And as for those many traditions-- as Walker describes each one I feel as though I am becoming a part of the world he has created. This series was my "find" of 2011. It is a delight to visit with Bruno and the people of St. Denis and be transported into their world.

The Dark Vineyard at Amazon.

The Dark Vineyard at The Book Depository.

The Dark Vineyard at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

Dark Blood by Stuart MacBride

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Title: Dark Blood
Author: Stuart MacBride
ISBN: 9780007362547
Publisher: HarperCollins UK, 2011
Paperback, 496 pages
Genre: Police Procedural, #6 Logan McRae mystery set in Aberdeen, Scotland
Rating: B
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: Run.

Richard Knox was a violent rapist of elderly men. He was caught, put on trial, and convicted of his crimes. While in prison, he found God, and now that he's been released all he wants is to make a new start in a place where no one knows his past. Unfortunately for Detective Sergeant Logan McRae, Knox's new home is in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Add Knox to a stew that contains gangsters from Edinburgh, a local crime lord, an inspector from Newcastle who wants to keep an eye on Knox, and folks from Newcastle looking for a missing mob accountant, and you can see that there's more than enough to keep McRae busy for two or three lifetimes. His problem is that he's still being jerked back and forth between two detective inspectors who can't seem to be able to live without McRae being at their beck and call every single hour of every single day.

MacBride writes edgy, violent tales with such a finely-honed dark sense of humor that I've often found myself laughing like a total nutter only a page or two after being left stunned and slightly sickened by something else. I know that makes me sound as if I'm a bit schizophrenic, but perhaps being a bit unbalanced helps you to understand what's going on once you've immersed yourself in MacBride's world.

I find myself having very strong and very personal reactions to the books in this series now. Logan McRae has found himself caught between two superior officers for far too long. At first, I found both of the superiors (and I'm using the term very loosely here) to be hilarious although their lack of willingness to do any real work greatly bothered me. I've gone through in the real world what McRae is going through in MacBride's fictional one. Although I did my best to find the humor in what I went through, there wasn't much to be found, and as McRae's woes keep going on a seemingly endless loop, almost every molecule of humor has been leached from the situation for me. I love the character of McRae too much to stop reading, so I'm hoping that MacBride will be kinder to him in the next book!

Despite my negative reactions I found Dark Blood to be another excellent book in this series. All the plot lines seem hopelessly tangled, and it's a miracle that McRae is able to sort out any of them at all. But MacBride reminds us that life isn't a fairy tale. Real life isn't neatly wrapped up and tied with a bow just as the last page is turned. The ending of Dark Blood may leave you as angry as it did me, but-- sadly-- what happens is far from being a new occurrence on planet Earth. I only wish that McRae had seen "The Shawshank Redemption" as many times as I have.

Dark Blood at Amazon.

Dark Blood at The Book Depository.

Dark Blood at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

Scene of the Blog Featuring Lydia of The Literary Lollipop!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

One day I was roaming aimlessly around the internet when I came across the phrase "The Literary Lollipop." I loved the mental picture that gave me, and when I found out it referred to a blog, you know I had to visit.

Lydia is the second person I know who's declared she's not going to buy one single book for an entire year. The other person was successful just last year, so I know it can be done, and I wish Lydia nothing but good fortune!

If you have yet to visit The Literary Lollipop, I hope you take this opportunity to do so. You'll find an eclectic mix of books being talked about, as well as childhood memories and original fiction. Take a look around, and say hello while you're there!

If you happen to be visiting from The Literary Lollipop-- Welcome! I'm glad you stopped by to take a look at Lydia's creative space. If you'd like to see any of the photos in larger sizes, all you have to do is click on them, and they'll open in a new window. Want to see more book bloggers' spaces? Click on the Scene of the Blog tab at the very top of my header! Lydia's here to give us a tour, so let's not keep her waiting!

Lydia needs a visit from the Internet Fairy!

Very sophisticated, right? Although I do have a table in my apartment, my computer has been set up on this antique chair for the past few months. I usually kneel as I'm typing, or lean on my couch for balance. I'm sure that doesn't sound very comfortable and, I assure you, it's not. Due to a faulty jack near my bed, this is the only way I can get internet. No, I don't have wireless. Apparently, I still live in the middle ages of technology.


Click on the photo to read some spines!

This shelf was recently reorganized after a spring cleaning. You'll be very proud to know that I cleared my shelves of over twenty books! I either gave them to family members, charity, or the library. Of course, all this means that I now have more room for more books! This probably defeats the purpose of spring cleaning in the first place but, alas, once a book addict, always a book addict. There is no organizational structure to the way I've stacked these tomes.

Spines to be read here, too!

This is my Classics Collection, capital "C." After completing over 5 years and two degrees of English Literature, I've accumulated a very large selection of classics. Everything from Dickens to Bronte, Spenser and Fitzgerald is accounted for here. There are even more sitting in boxes at my mother's apartment, but I have no idea what to do with them all. I like having them close by, just in case... just in case there's a literature emergency or something. You never know, right? I absolutely adore Oxford covers, so I have a tendency to prefer them over Wordsworth or Penguin. There's something so charming and lovely about the artwork they feature. However, I loathe the font, which is always too small! If I read an Oxford edition for more than a couple of hours, my eyes start to water from the strain.

Lydia, after looking at the books on your shelves, I would've known you had at least one degree in English literature. Why? Because I have one, and my shelves looked eerily similar for many, many years! (In other words, I saw many old friends while reading those book spines.) I also have a fondness for Oxford covers.

I hope you've found a way to get internet comfortably now! What you've described to us makes several of my abused joints pop and snap. (Ouch....)

Thank you for allowing us this glimpse into your creative space, Lydia. We certainly appreciate it!

Don't forget to stop by next Wednesday when I'll feature another book blogger from our worldwide community.

Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse on a Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Click to view full size. More Wordless Wednesday.

The Best Decade of My Life

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Are You With Your Soul Mate?

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

You Are Soul Mates

You're in this relationship for the long haul, and it's almost certain that your sweetie is too.

Everyone agrees that the two of you are perfect for one another. You were meant to be together.

While you and your partner are a good match, you still work hard for what you've got.

You are big on respect, communication, and unconditional love. You want this relationship to last forever.

Are You With Your Soul Mate?

Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Title: Slash and Burn
Author: Colin Cotterill
ISBN: 9781616951160
Publisher:Soho Crime, 2011
Hardcover, 290 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery, Humorous Mystery, #8 in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series
Rating: A
Source: Amazon Vine

First Line: You know? Being shut up in a cage with a live bear was a piece of cake compared to being drunk and high in charge of a half-a-million dollars' worth of flying metal.

Dr. Siri Paiboun, the National Coroner of Laos, is getting up close and personal to the age of eighty. He's announced his retirement, and he's counting down the days until he no longer has to deal with his incompetent superiors. You know what happens when you begin that countdown, don't you? Sure enough, Dr. Siri is placed on a joint team of Americans and Laos charged with finding and identifying the body of an American airman who's been missing in action for ten years.

There's no way Dr. Siri can weasel out of the assignment. The only thing he manages to do is to stack his team with his wife, friends and co-workers. If he's being forced to go, he may as well try to enjoy himself. (If there's any other reason why he wants his nearest and dearest to go with him, he's not sharing the information.) With the Americans bringing the food and in charge of the transportation, they journey to a remote area in northern Laos. Arriving at their destination-- a decrepit hotel in the middle of a field of unexploded ordinance-- smoke begins to fill the air.

If it were a few months later in the year, the smoke could easily be attributed to the natives' "slash and burn" farming techniques, but it's much too early for that. Dr. Siri knew before they ever started out that something was going on, and the poor visibility proves that someone is doing their best to blow smoke in his eyes. When a member of the group is found dead, Dr. Siri knows that he's got to put all the clues together before the fortune teller's predictions of his death come true.

According to the dust jacket of this book, this is the final installment of the Dr. Siri series, and I will miss it. Cotterill has concocted a devious, multi-layered plot in which it's easy to become confused. This confusion arises because most of the people are saying one thing and doing something entirely different. They all have their own agendas.

What is needed is someone who's used to this way of running things-- someone who can see past the smoke and mirrors-- and who better than Dr. Siri? Dr. Siri who has lived in France and has an acquaintance with cultures other than his own. Dr. Siri, who is no stranger to guerilla fighting in the jungle. Dr. Siri, who knows how to look past the surface and see directly into the hearts of those around him.

Allowing Siri to hand-pick his own team is ensemble casting at its very best. For long-time fans of the series, each regular character has his or her part to play in the story. For those readers meeting these wonderful people for the first time, they're getting to see them at their very best. As things begin to go wrong and the team is forced to stay past the range of the Americans' food supplies, Siri's wife, Madame Daeng, is put in charge of the hotel cooking staff and the contents of the hotel pantry. Madame Daeng alone is worth the price of admission. That entire food sequence had me howling with laughter.

And it is all due to wise Dr. Siri, whose devious mind knows no limits in resourcefulness for surmounting the difficulties he finds in his path. Dr. Siri, his friends, and his co-workers live in a world in which they've had to fight for survival. But that fight hasn't taken the joy from their lives. If I take anything away from reading the books in this series, it's that it is possible to survive in a harsh world and still find life, laughter, love, and joy all around. It has everything to do with having the right people by your side. Dr. Siri, Madame Daeng, Nurse Dtui, Mr. Geung... over the course of eight books, I've come to love you all. You will be missed.

Slash and Burn at Amazon.

Slash and Burn at The Book Depository.

Slash and Burn at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

Scene of the Crime with Author Sheila Lowe!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Today is John Hancock's birthday-- National Handwriting Day-- so it is more than fitting that this week's Scene of the Crime interview is with Sheila Lowe, author of the Claudia Rose mystery series. Not only is Sheila a handwriting expert herself, but so is her character, Claudia Rose. Lowe's series is a natural draw for me. I've been fascinated with handwriting since the eighth grade when I helped my English teacher grade handwritten papers. Since there were less than forty students in my class, I knew each one of them, and it wasn't long until I began matching up various aspects of their personalities with the way they wrote. Years later when I began hearing things about handwriting analysis, I read articles about it and discovered that many of the assumptions I'd made were correct.

I really enjoy Sheila Lowe's Claudia Rose series, and if I had the chance to ask this author another question, it would be: With the emphasis on communication through keyboards, and schools planning to stop teaching handwriting skills, what sort of impact do you foresee in the field of handwriting analysis? (I have to admit that this makes me feel a but like Columbo-- "Oh, one more thing....")

Sheila Lowe

If you'd like to learn more about Sheila and her books, here are a few links for you:

Sheila Lowe's website

Sheila Lowe on Twitter

Sheila Lowe on Facebook

A Special Weekly Link Round-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:25:00 +0000

This has been a good week here at Casa Kittling. There must've been something in the water the Edgar Awards folks drank. I don't normally pay attention to awards because they always seem to choose books that I've either never heard of or I've never read. However, the list of nominated books just came out for the Edgars, and I've read THREE (one each in Best Novel, Best Paperback Original and the Mary Higgins Clark). What's up with that?

I was thrilled to see that Blogger finally got on the ball with threaded comments. I've been wanting them for ages but stayed away from programs like Disqus because-- with my luck-- I probably would've blown up my blog. I went into my settings and made sure everything was as it should be for threaded comments. No go. (I wasn't surprised.) I found a blog post that gave an alternative for those who couldn't get the feature to work. No go. (Still no shock on this face. Just determination.) After doing a bit of searching, I found another small segment of code that I inserted into my HTML, and BINGO! I am one happy camper!

I watch TV and stitch.

I've also been stitching up a storm and thought I'd share a photo of one of the projects I've completed so far this year. (Tissue box cover, coaster, and a beaded ornament.) This is what I do while I watch television. I don't know if it's got something to do with my advancing years, but if I just sit and watch, the watch rapidly turns to sleep!

I'm also planning and making lists because next week is very special-- and not merely because it's my birthday on Tuesday. Tuesday is also my tenth wedding anniversary.

I sometimes paid attention to my mother's pearls of wisdom, one of which was "Never settle." Well, Mom, I didn't settle. It took me 47 years of not-really-looking to find Mr. Perfect-for-Me, and then I practically fell over the man-- but I found him and imported him. The last ten years have been the best of my life, thanks to Denis. Vous et nul autre, darlin'!

Wait a second! This was supposed to be a link round-up, wasn't it? Hang on... I got 'em right....here!

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

A Friday the 13th bookish quiz. (An aside: Friday the 13th is a lucky day for me. On the other hand, Monday the 13th makes me want to hide my head under the covers!)
Are they trying to save money? Waterstone's drops the apostrophe in its name (but I'm not going to).
UK scientists find lost Darwin fossils.
I never tire of reading about the spooky Winchester House.
Have you watched the crow who enjoys sledding down the roof?
I have to do this just to bedevil a friend: 33 years after his death, John Wayne is a bigger movie star than George Clooney.

I ♥ Lists

15 great works of literature-inspired nail art.
Essential World War I novels for "Downton Abbey" fans. I've read most of them, agree with their choices for the most part, but they still left out some gems.
Hell-Raising Heroines: Three Ladies with Spitfire.
Top 10 books about the internet.
10 legendary bad boys of literature.

Social Media & Blogging Tips

Twitter, the virtual literary salon.
31 unexpected perks of blogging you'll never want to give up.
Two posts that might help you if you use Blogger and are having trouble enabling threaded comments: Number 1, which didn't work for me because I have a *cough* custom *cough* template, and Number 2, which did work for me when I used Method #2. Yes, I did back-up my template first, and the only thing I had to correct was my drop-down label menu on my sidebar. When I fixed that one item, the threaded comments still worked.

Around the Water Cooler in the Book Blogosphere

Sheila of Book Journey talks about how blogging has changed. Between her eloquence and that of the people leaving comments, her post gave me a lot of food for thought.
How to say "I Do" to shared bookshelves without ruining your relationship.

eBook Deals of the Week

I still don't think you can beat the Poisoned Pen Press's 10 Great eBooks for 99¢ apiece. There are some wonderful first-in-series mysteries here, most of which I would recommend highly!
If you've been paying attention to me lately, you've seen me raving about Julia Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson/ Russ Van Alstyne mystery series. Criminal Elements is having a sweepstakes in which two winners will each win the entire series. If you're a resident of the US, here are the sweepstakes rules. Good luck!

Eye Candy for Book Lovers

Love books? Love Harley-Davidsons? Here are the perfect bookends for you!
Turning an ordinary suitcase into a travel bookcase. (Put me down for two, please!)
How to turn a waste tram into a library.
This shelf is pretty cool. On the left side of the page under "Marina," click on Z Shelf.

New to My Google Reader

Whew! I had quite a few goodies to share this week, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Don't forget to stop by next weekend when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!

The Sandburg Connection by Mark de Castrique

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:22:00 +0000

Title: The Sandburg Connection
Author: Mark de Castrique
ISBN: 9781590589427
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press, 2011
Paperback, 250 pages
Genre: Private Investigator, #3 Sam Blackman mystery
Rating: A
Source: Read as an eBook through Net Galley.

First Line: The beep caught me in mid-bite.

Sam Blackman and his partner, Nakayla Robertson, have been hired by an insurance company to follow Professor Janice Wainwright, who's suing a surgeon for malpractice. The insurance company wants to catch Wainwright doing things she's not supposed to be able to do so her case can be thrown out of court. So far, the things that Sam has learned about Wainwright aren't very complimentary, and he believes that this case will be pretty open-and-shut, especially when Wainwright drives to Connemara (Carl Sandburg's home in Flat Rock, North Carolina) and begins climbing a tough hiking trail to the top of a mountain.

Sam, who lost a leg while serving in Iraq, isn't properly equipped to follow her, but he does, only to hear her fall and find her bleeding and semi-conscious. "It's the Sandburg verses" were her last words. An autopsy is performed which proves that the surgeon bungled the operation, and Sam is left with questions that need answers. Why did Wainwright climb that mountain when she was in so much pain? Was someone else there? What are the Sandburg verses? When Wainwright's farmhouse is broken into and Sandburg books stolen, Sam becomes convinced that someone is searching for information that's worth killing for.

Sometimes I'm ashamed of myself. Why is it that, when I find out someone is being investigated for some sort of insurance fraud, I automatically assume that person is guilty? With my distrust of large corporations, you'd think that the opposite would be true. Personal shortcomings aside, I liked seeing how the perception of Wainwright's character evolved through the opening chapters of the book.

When Sam learns that Wainwright has a teenaged daughter, he goes to meet the girl, and she is an emotional, mixed-up mess-- as anyone her age would be when faced with the death of a parent. The girl tugs on the heartstrings in more than one way. Yes, she is the catalyst for doing what's right and for doing what's best for her, but she also introduces a welcome note of humor in the form of a pregnant goat. How Sam reacts to the goat is very funny indeed.

Thanks to Mark de Castrique, I now know that Asheville, North Carolina, is a literary hotbed. Sam Blackman has solved mysteries involving Tom Wolfe and F. Scott Fitzgerald; now it's Carl Sandburg's turn. As long as he writes 'em, I'm going to read 'em. The famous literary figure is the hook that draws me in, and the team of Sam and Nakayla keeps me taking the bait. The two have an easy, witty chemistry that makes the pages turn all too quickly, and the Asheville area is scenic and rich in history. What a combination! I may even read up on Asheville in order to try to guess what their future investigations may be!

The Sandburg Connection at Amazon.

The Sandburg Connection at The Book Depository.

The Sandburg Connection at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:41:00 +0000

Title: A Fountain Filled With Blood
Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming
ISBN: 9780312995430
Publisher: St. Martin's, 2004
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Genre: Police Procedural, #2 Clare Fergusson/ Russ Van Alstyne mystery
Rating: A
Source: Purchased as an eBook through Barnes and Noble.

First Line: The yahoos came by just after the dinner party broke up.

Small towns have a reputation for being quiet and safe that's not always deserved. The same holds true for Millers Kill, New York. The Fourth of July weekend brings a spate of vicious attacks that have Reverend Clare Fergusson and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne reeling-- not only because of the brutality but because the victims seem to have been chosen because they're gay.

When the third attack on an out-of-town developer ends in murder, Clare and Russ begin thinking outside the box. Could these attacks be connected to the murder victim's plan to open an upscale spa outside of town? What Clare and Russ don't know is that their thinking is going to lead them straight into danger.

It hasn't been that long since I read-- and fell in love with-- the first book in this series, In the Bleak Midwinter. I wasn't even halfway through that book when I began ordering all the rest of the volumes in the series. I honestly try to pace myself through series, especially when they're as good as this one started out being. After all, the faster I gobble them up, the longer I'll have to wait for the next book to be published. However, I don't feel quite so guilty about reading A Fountain Filled With Blood so soon after the first. You see... I told my husband about In the Bleak Midwinter, and as of the writing of this review, he's already finished all the books in the series. When he found out I was only on the second book, two words came to mind to describe his facial expression: "cat" and "canary."

As I read this book, I see that Clare and I are doomed to disagree about her choice of transportation, but as long as her choice doesn't put her life in danger again, I'll just smile and shake my head. One of the things about this series that has grabbed me by the throat is the sheer power of Spencer-Fleming's characterizations. Clare and Russ are real. I catch myself talking to them as I read. (This time I remember yelling, "Check the helicopter!" several times.) They have wonderful senses of humor. They make mistakes and wonder how they're going to make things right. And neither one is about to stand idly by when someone is in trouble. A Fountain Filled With Blood shows both of these characters in action: Russ in his protective police chief best, and Clare putting her Army helicopter pilot training to good use.

I know I've been praising the characters in this book to the skies, but that's not the only good thing to be found. Spencer-Fleming provides some excellent misdirection throughout as to the true motivations behind the crimes. I didn't put all the pieces together until the action was gearing up for the grand finale.

As much as I've enjoyed the first two books in this series, I'm going to make myself slow down. I don't want to be a whiner, impatiently waiting for the next book to be published. And if you haven't read any of Julia Spencer-Fleming's books, I have only one question for you: What on earth are you waiting for?

A Fountain Filled With Blood at Amazon.

A Fountain Filled With Blood at The Book Depository.

A Fountain Filled With Blood at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

Scene of the Blog Featuring Shelleyrae of Book'd Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

I have a feeling that Shelleyrae found me before I found her. Doesn't really matter, because not only did I gain an insightful reader of Kittling: Books, I also found an excellent blog to read.

The second I visited Shelleyrae's blog Book'd Out and saw the header photo, I fell in love: a suitcase filled with books that's washed up on a beach. That photo spoke to the part of me that packs books for long journeys well before I think of what clothes to take along!

There's a lot more to Book'd Out than the header photo, of course, or I wouldn't keep coming back. Shelleyrae reads an eclectic mix of books, and two of my favorite features are the Australian Women Writers posts, and her Stuff on Sundays series. If you haven't visited Shelleyrae's blog before, I certainly hope you take the time to do so, and please remember to say hello while you're there!

If you're visiting from Book'd Out-- Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. If you'd like to see any of Shelleyrae's photos in larger sizes, all you have to do is click on them, and they'll open in a new window. If you'd like to see the creative spaces of other book bloggers, please click on the Scene of the Blog tab at the very top of my header. Shelleyrae's waiting to give us a tour, so let's not keep her waiting!

Hi! My name is Shelleyrae and my blog, Book'd Out is just over a year old. I read a lot, read fast and enjoy a reasonably eclectic selection of genres. I am a thirty something married mother of four (aged 5 - 15) living in a country coastal town in northern New South Wales, Australia. I work part time, hope to study for a second degree next year and don't sleep much!

I was excited to receive the invitation from Cathy to participate in Scene of the Blog (thank you!), and then I looked around the room and groaned. I work primarily on my desktop, though I also have a laptop, in the once 'guest' room that is now a catch all for out grown toys and clothes from my four children, empty appliance boxes my husband refuses to throw out, piles of paperwork and the paraphernalia associated with my past and current work and hobbies. A child gate in the doorway hasn't been removed even though this year all my children are finally at school. There is a television I half watch as I work at the computer but really the sound just keeps me company. There isn't a lot of light since the room is at the front of the house the glass is opaque and because the blind is broken I can't open it (I've been meaning to replace it!). In short it's a bit of a mess! None of the spaces in my house are pretty - functional would be the best description. I dream of clean, decorated and organised spaces and more bookshelves but that won't be happening any time soon. Maybe when the children leave home in about fifteen years!

Shelleyrae's work space

My computer desk is almost two meters long - bought more than ten years ago secondhand and is crowded with computer accessories, piled with notebooks, paper and of course books. The photo shows the space where I actually sit - editing out the clutter at one end, and I admit I tidied up the bit you can see. There is always a can of cola (usually Pepsi Max) nearby, whatever books are on my TBR list for the week along with my iPod Touch that I use as my e-reader, pens, a notebook etc. Ugh I didn't realise how filthy my mousepad is til I took this photo - time to replace that!

Some of Shelleyrae's books. Click to view-- you'll be able to read the spines!

The wall behind me hosts my main book shelf - it is about two meters high by three meters wide and sagging under the weight of books and magazines. What you can't see in this picture is that the bottom shelves are filled with resource books, text books, photography and scrapbooking magazines and picture books that have overflowed from my children's shelves. There are five boxes full of books that I plan to discard pushed against the base. The other four shelves are crammed at least two if not three deep with books I have read and want to keep or plan to read. The photo is a digitally stitched panorama of two shelves that took five individual photo's to construct.

At a local beach

There are also books piled in other places throughout the house, mainly by my bedside or on the coffee table. I mostly read leaning over my kitchen counter or curled up on the chaise end of the couch in my lounge room, usually with at least one child draped over the top of me.

During the summer I take the kids to the park by the river at the bottom of our street, or to the beach, just a few minutes away and read while they play.

First off, I want to thank you for taking the time to stitch all those photos together. I know I'm not the only one who loves to read the spines of books, and by doing that, you've made a lot of people happy!

I sympathize with your feeling that the rooms in your house are "functional but not pretty," but to me, rooms have to be functional or they're not pretty, so you're halfway there! I'd also say that I'm envious of your being able to read at the beach, but if I'm honest with myself... the few times I've been at a beach and had a book, I don't think I settled down to read even one paragraph!

Thank you so much for allowing us this glimpse into your home, Shelleyrae. We certainly appreciate it!

Don't forget to stop by next Wednesday when I'll be featuring another book blogger from our worldwide community.

The Wordless Wednesday Look-Out

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Click to view full size. More Wordless Wednesday.

The Rope by Nevada Barr

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:09:00 +0000

Title: The Rope
Author: Nevada Barr
ISBN: 9780312614577
Publisher: St. Martin's, 2012
Hardcover, 368 pages
Genre: Police Procedural, #17 Anna Pigeon mystery, prequel
Rating: A
Source: Amazon Vine

First Line: Regis Candor took a swig of his beer and watched his neighbor, Jenny Gorman.

A fiercely held belief among old-timers is that Glen Canyon was even more beautiful than its relative to the west, the Grand Canyon. To those of us who've seen the Grand Canyon, it defies belief that another could be even more awe-inspiring. None of us will ever be able to form our own opinions, however, because a dam was built on the Colorado River, Lake Powell slowly filled, and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was formed.

Anna Pigeon's husband is dead, and life as she's known it has ended. In an attempt to escape memories and make a clean start, she decides to become a park ranger and accepts the first opening she's offered. Before she knows it, she's boarded a bus and headed for Page, Arizona, and Lake Powell-- an incredible blaze of colors from the water and the sky to the red sandstone cliffs.

She doesn't mix all that much with the other employees, and on a day off she decides to go for a hike... and never returns. Since she wasn't the friendliest of souls, her co-workers think she didn't like the job and has moved on, but that's not the case.

Anna wakes up, trapped at the bottom of a natural dry well. She's naked. She has no supplies, and she has no clear memory of how she got in this situation. As Anna slowly pieces things together she realizes that someone has put her in this natural prison and that no one else even knows that she's missing. If she's to survive, this city girl is going to have to survive, to outwit her captor, and to emerge triumphant. The alternative is unthinkable.

Once again Nevada Barr hits a home run. Her setting is a land of incredible beauty, and she's a master of putting her readers right in the middle of the place she's chosen-- not just with breathtaking descriptions, but with facts. It's evident that Barr is as sickened as I am with how visitors treat the area, and some of her facts made me glad that I never tested the waters during any of my visits there.

This prequel was a sheer delight to read, allowing me to see Anna as she was at the very beginning and to watch her develop into the character I've come to love and trust. If you haven't read any of the Anna Pigeon books yet and you're wondering if you should read them in order of publication (starting with Track of the Cat) or in chronological order with The Rope, you could do it either way. (Personally I would prefer order of publication.) For those of you who have no intentions of committing to the entire series, please don't pass up the opportunity to read this book.

If you read the last book in the series, Burn, and did not care for the violence or the rather graphic subject matter, you don't have to worry about it in this book even though your antennae probably twitched at the words "naked, at the bottom of a well." Just sit back, relax, and enjoy this story about our Anna at the very beginning.

The Rope at Amazon.

The Rope at The Book Depository.

The Rope at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

What's Your Rock Anthem?

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Your Rock Anthem is "I Love Rock N' Roll"

Pure and simple, you love to rock. There isn't much more to it than that.

As far as the lifestyle goes, you'll skip the wild sex and illegal drugs.

The music is more than enough for you, and of all types, you're the most likely to make your own.

Sometimes you just need to rock, and you can't rest until you do!

What's Your Rock Anthem?

Scene of the Crime with Author J.M. Hayes!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:52:00 +0000

Mondays get a bad rap. It seems as if most people hate Mondays. I don't, because once again it's time for an interview with one of my favorite crime fiction writers. This week I'm interviewing J.M. Hayes, creator of the Mad Dog and Englishman series. English (known as "Englishman") is a divorced father who's sheriff of Benteen County, Kansas. Mad Dog is his part Cheyenne half-brother. Pacing, vivid characters, humor... if you haven't read a Mad Dog and Englishman mystery, I certainly hope you'll give one a try!

J.M. Hayes and friends

Looking for more information about J.M. Hayes and his books? Here are a few links for you:

J.M. Hayes' website

J.M. Hayes on Facebook

J.M. Hayes on the Poisoned Pen Press blog

J.M. Hayes' books

Now let's get to the fun part-- the interview!

What was the very first book you remember reading and loving? What makes that book so special?

I had a child's picture book that delighted me--The Little Engine That Could. That was a favorite, as was a Christmas book with three dimensional pop ups on every page. But the first real books I remember falling in love with were The Swiss Family Robinson, The Little Lame Prince and The Marvelous Land of Oz. My mother read them to me and then I reread them myself, over and over. Adventures in the wilderness and magical fantasies. Both still call to me.

Outside of your writing and all associated commitments, what do you like to do in your free time?

I try to stay reasonably fit. My joints do a lot of complaining when I run these days, so I swim laps--really boring except when beautiful women are doing the same thing. I walk my dogs and play or do obedience work with them every day. And, unlike anyone else I know in my age group, I play World of Warcraft. It's the world's largest MMORPG (Massive Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game). I have five level 85 characters (the top level you can reach) and should have a sixth by the end of the year--Borgward, Sinnomore, Chindi, Allielujah, Curmudgeon, and Jinnblossom. It's like something out of the Science Fiction novels I read when I was growing up. Oh, and of course I read--history, biography, scifi, literary fiction, and lots and lots of mysteries.

If I were to visit your hometown, where would you recommend that I go? (I like seeing and doing things that aren't in all the guide books.)

El Tiradito

Come to Tucson during the Lent/Easter season and we'll go visit the ceremonies at Old Pascua Yaqui Village. Yaquis came into contact with the Spanish in the 16th Century. The Spanish could never conquer or convert them, but the Yaqui adopted some aspects of Christianity and blended them with their own beliefs. They practice elaborate ceremonies all through the Lenten season, climaxing on Easter--masked forces of good and evil do battle throughout the village. The Yaqui at Pasqua welcome visitors as long as they are respectful and leave cameras and other recording devices at home.

Anytime you come to Tucson, we can visit El Tiradito, aka The Wishing Shrine. It's just south of Tucson's convention center next door to a great Mexican restaurant. It's the grave of a young man who killed his wife's lover and was put to death. They say that, in order to redeem himself, he intercedes with God on behalf of those who bring him their problems. The shrine for this folk saint is just an adobe wall soaked in the wax of countless candles--the burning wishes left by those who've brought him their troubles. El Tiradito is just blocks from downtown's skyscrapers and on the edge of Barrio Viejo--a little piece of magic caught between historic Tucson and the city we may someday become.

You have total control over casting a movie based on your life. Which actor would you cast as you?

Humphrey Bogart

It's a tough choice--Lou Costello or Humphrey Bogart. Or possibly Tarzan's Cheetah, in his prime.

Who is your favorite recurring character in crime fiction?

Most recently, I'd say Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire. I see his Sheriff Longmire as my Sheriff English, transported to an alternate reality. Wyoming qualifies as alternate reality if you start on the flat-earth Great Plains of Central Kansas.

Name one book that you've read that you wish you had written. What is it about that book that made it come to mind?

I could name hundreds of books I wish I'd written. If I have to narrow it down to one, I suppose I'd pick To Kill A Mockingbird, perhaps the single best novel I've ever read. It's perfect for adolescents and adults, a story about good people trying to do the right thing in the face of small-minded bigotry. And it's told from the point of view of a precocious young girl incapable of dishonesty. I also love the fact that Harper Lee and Truman Capote spent part of their childhoods together and turned each other into characters in their novels.

What did you do the first time you saw one of your books on a shelf in a bookstore? How did you celebrate when you first heard you were to be published?

I was amazed. I hadn't gotten my copies yet and I was prowling the shelves of Tucson's sadly-departed top-ten-nationally-ranked bookstore, The Book Mark. An acquaintance happened to be shopping there as well. I showed her my book. She bought it and I autographed it. It was one of the best moments of my life. I celebrated the sale of the manuscript by telling all my family and friends, and hoping it would actually get into print.

I don't know if you've seen it, but I love Parnell Hall's video about book signings. What is the most unusual experience you've had at a book signing or author event?

I've spoken to many authors about their book signing experiences, so I don't think I've had any that are truly unusual. I've gone from sitting all alone and studiously ignored by any customers who happened into the store to being told my novel was someone's all-time favorite. Unfortunately, the second event only happened once. That makes it unusual, at least for me.

The way some people talk, the only way to read now or in the future is with some sort of electronic device, like my husband's Nook. What is your opinion of eBooks, and how will they affect you as a published author?

I like to think, for my age, that I'm pretty e-savvy. After all, I spend hours every week as computer-generated entities like elf mages or werewolf priests. But so far I don't do ebooks. I've seen them up close and know all the wonderful things they can do, but it's a tactile thing. I love the feel of a book. I love covers. I love stacking the books I've read on my shelves. I love being able to tell what someone else is reading in public. I'll probably end up with an e-reader one day (I'm running out of bookshelves), but I'll continue to read real pages that I can enjoy the pleasure of turning for myself for as long as I'm able. Call me a selective Luddite. My hope for ebooks is that they'll get me more sales. They're a lot cheaper and these are hard times. I'll take all the readers I can get, whatever the format.

On Sale Now!

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. We enjoyed having the opportunity to get to know you a little better.

May your book sales do nothing but increase!

Frozen Assets by Quentin Bates

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:43:00 +0000

Title: Frozen Assets
Author: Quentin Bates
ISBN: 9781569478677
Publisher: Soho Crime, 2011
Hardcover, 330 pages
Genre: Police Procedural, #1 Officer Gunnhildur mystery
Rating: B
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: Water gurgled between the piles of the dock and the car's tyres juddered over the heavy timbers.

It's an open-and-shut case: the young man was drunk, stumbled off the dock late at night, and drowned. But Police Sergeant Gunnhildur wonders why on earth he'd get drunk in Reykjavik and then drive a hundred miles to fall into the harbor in her town and drown? Resources are tight, and although she's advised to stop looking into this death, Gunnhildur is nothing if not stubborn. The further she digs, the more she finds-- and the information and clues are leading all the way to Iceland's business and banking communities.

While Gunnhildur and her team investigate, a rookie crime journalist attaches himself to her in an attempt to get a scoop, and everyone in the country is wondering who's dishing all the dirt at Skandalblogger.com. When a second murder occurs, Gunnhildur knows she and her team must move even faster to catch a very wily killer.

Bates makes the landscape and weather of Iceland a brooding character in Frozen Assets. The economy, which worsens daily, highlights Iceland's precarious situation as a small country with very limited resources.

The secondary characters (with the exception of two spoiled rich sisters) are a bit two-dimensional, but the two main characters certainly aren't. The killer is ruthless and very, very smart if a bit arrogant. Having heard Officer Gunnhildur referred to as "the fat policewoman" once, he continues to dismiss her as such-- even when he discovers that she's more than a match for him.

Gunna is the single mother of two children. Her thirteen-year-old daughter is still in school while her nineteen-year-old son is working as a deckhand on a fishing boat. The reader knows that she's a bit out of the ordinary right from the start when she insists that the young man's death is not a case of accidental drowning, and then when the case is given to another policeman who wants to pin the death on his favorite suspect. As soon as she sees which way the wind is blowing, she refuses to have any part in it.

When Gunna knows she's right, she will not back down, regardless of whose face she has to get into, what she has to say, or how many hours she has to work. She's good at thinking on her feet, and she does an excellent job of running the investigation and keeping everyone focused and looking in the right directions. The best part of this book was watching the battle of wits between Gunna and the killer.

If there was any one thing that disappointed me in reading this book, it was that I found the tone to be curiously dispassionate. I found it difficult to become fully engaged in the story. That is a minor quibble however, as there is plenty to like in Frozen Assets. I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Officer Gunnhildur, and I won't have to wait long. The second book in the series, Cold Comfort, just became available this week.

Frozen Assets at Amazon.

Frozen Assets at The Book Depository.

Frozen Assets at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

The "Everything Looks So Ordinary" Weekly Link Round-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:54:00 +0000

Even Denis has made remarks about how empty the house looks now that the Christmas decorations are packed away for another year. I have to admit that, although there have been some years that I didn't want to take them down, this year was not one of them. I'm already looking forward to the end of January when Denis and I will be celebrating our tenth anniversary down in Bisbee. Ten years may not seem like much to you, but when a person (me) doesn't intend to ever get married and then changes her mind at the age of forty-seven, ten years is close to astounding. Our wedding anniversary happens to be on my birthday. I wanted it that way because Denis is the best present I've ever given myself.

Enough mush! Let's see what kind of links I managed to round-up this week....

Bookish News & Other Interesting Stuff

Venerable Bookhouse owners share a life among the stacks.
The handwritten prayer book love notes sent by Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn before they married.
Even authors have Office Envy.
The authors who are going it alone online and winning.
A short video for your viewing pleasure: The Joy of Books. (I can't believe the amount of work this must have taken to make happen!)
A personal challenge blog-- 365: Make a Book a Day. Donna Meyer is going to make a book a day for one year.
Bookfessions

Eye Candy for Book Lovers

Cecilia Levy's dainty little tea cups are made from recycled book pages.
15 creative bookshelves and unusual bookcases. My favorite? The Infinity Shelf System.
Here's one way to keep your Reads separate from your To-Be-Reads.
Carved Book Landscapes

I ♥ Lists

The 25 Greatest Epigraphs in Literature.
Once again Hollywood is getting smart and going back to books for their stories: Stephanie Plum and 5 Other Tales of Kick-ass Females.

My Nook Book Pick of the Week

Desert Noir, the first book in Betty Webb's excellent Lena Jones series, is $3.99!

Other eBook Goodies

Backlist eBooks
The world's first solar Kindle lighted cover

New to My Google Reader

That's it for this week. Don't forget to stop by next weekend when I'll have a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure!

Come in and Cover Me by Gin Phillips

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:34:00 +0000

Title: Come In and Cover Me
Author: Gin Phillips
ISBN: 9781594488443
Publisher: Riverhead Books, 2012
Hardcover, 352 pages
Genre: Fiction, (very light) Paranormal
Rating: B+
Source: Publicist

First Line: Ren stood perfectly still in the dark, listening.

Ren's beloved brother Scott died in a car crash when she was twelve. Since that time, Scott has always been a presence in her life even though it may only be in the few notes of a song or a shadow in the moonlight. Twenty-five years later, her ability to connect with the ghosts around her makes her especially sensitive as an archaeologist. Ren has dedicated her life to breathing life into those people who lived in this world long before us. She is focused on recreating how they lived, in telling their stories.

Now she's on the verge of the most important discovery of her career. The spirits of two Mimbres women are guiding her-- and not just to the remnants of their own lives. They are also trying to deliver a message to Ren about her developing relationship with a fellow archaeologist who's working on the dig with her.

This book is enjoyable for the New Mexico setting as well as the archaeology and the information about the Mimbres culture. For those of you who tend not to like anything that smacks of the paranormal, you'll be happy to note that Phillips has an extremely delicate touch with it here. As you get to know Ren, the ghosts that surround her seem to be more a coping mechanism than spooky things that supposedly go bump in the night.

No matter how interesting the archaeology or the setting or the pottery-making skills of ancient tribes, Come In and Cover Me is all about Ren, and she is a fascinating character. Yes, she has dedicated her life to recreating the lives of those long-dead and to telling their stories, but in the process she's avoided living her own life. As the pages turned, I began trying to will Ren to change. I think you will, too.

Come In and Cover Me at Amazon.

Come In and Cover Me at The Book Depository.

Come In and Cover Me at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

The Gun Also Rises by Jeffrey Cohen

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:02:00 +0000

Title: The Gun Also Rises
Author: Jeffrey Cohen
Format: eBook
Genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth, Short Story, Humorous Mystery, Prequel to the Aaron Tucker mystery series
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble.

First Line: "So he pulled a gun out of his pocket."

It's not easy being a freelance reporter and work-at-home dad. Aaron Tucker is hired to write a piece on a local minor league baseball player and discovers that the young man died under mysterious circumstances. He's having a difficult time focusing on the assignment because his six-year-old son, Ethan (not yet diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome), has been framed with a dastardly crime: bringing a water pistol to his first-grade class.

There's not much to say about this short story without giving a whole lot of good stuff away. What I will say is that it's short, breezy, and fun-- a perfect introduction to the Aaron Tucker mystery series (and I happen to have the first book waiting for me on my well-stocked to-be-read shelves). I have yet to read anything by Jeffrey Cohen/E.J. Copperman that I haven't liked, and I think it's safe to say that this trend will continue well into the foreseeable future.

The only other thing that I'm willing to divulge is this: "The Gun Also Rises" is hilarious and not suitable for reading in bed while your partner is asleep. Trust me.

The Gun Also Rises for Your Kindle.

The Gun Also Rises for Your Nook.

Scene of the Blog Featuring Risa of Breadcrumb Reads!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:27:00 +0000

This week's featured book blogger is a teacher by profession, a former editor at a publishing house, and a stay-at-home mother with a young son. Risa is from India, and she doesn't accept books for review because "My reading time is very limited and I prefer to spend it reading all the books I have wanted to read for ages or would like to add to my book collection."

In her blog Breadcrumb Reads Risa talks about those books she reads. She's reminded me of many classics that I've read and she's introduced me to many authors I've never heard of. If you've never visited Breadcrumb Reads, I hope you take this opportunity to do so, and please say hello to Risa while you're there!

If you're visiting from Risa's blog, welcome! I'm glad you've stopped by to take a look at Risa's blogging space. If you'd like to see the photo in a larger size, all you have to do is click on it, and it will open in a new window. If you'd like to see more blogging spaces from former participants, please click on the Scene of the Blog tab at the very top of my header. Risa is about to give us a tour, so let's not keep her waiting!

I wasn't aware until Cathy contacted me that there was a feature called "Scene of the Blog". I've spent some time since then going through some of the feature posts, and it's been lovely reading through and looking at pictures of other bloggers' work spaces.

Risa's desk in her dining room

My work space is in a cozy little corner of the dining room. Beside it is a window that looks into our balcony and the green open plots beyond. The walnut- coloured desk you see was something I fell in love with the moment I spotted it at a furniture store. My husband and I had not really intended buying a study table for a while yet when we walked into the store. But the moment he saw me gushing over it he bought it for me on the understanding that I would definitely use it. Well, duh! Of course I was going to use it! Until we got this I had to keep carting my laptop all around the house! And then, there was the struggle to keep my son from pulling the wires and tripping all over the place. Now my study table is out of everybody's way. It took some time for me to find my cozy nook. But after three months of shifting it around, we finally settled for the current place. My husband has been looking to move it again, but I'm quite adamant to have it where it is! The only disadvantage is that I don't get too much of the fan. But it doesn't really bother me...much.

Most of the books you can see are notebooks and diaries. Of reading books there are never more than three or four on my desk at a time. These would usually be ones that I am currently reading. The ones that you get a brief glimpse of in this photograph are three books of short stories and a novel called Tiger Hills. You can also see that I have my blog's home page open on the laptop screen. :D

In the middle rack I keep a few show pieces (this is my dining room after all! :D), most of which I picked up on our recent trip to Malaysia. You can't see it in this photograph, but I keep a little green frame with a cute picture of my son when he was two months old, at this end of the rack. Right on top you see our printer balanced rather precariously and a desk-top calendar with pretty paintings of Indian scenery. I don't use the rack below the desk as yet since it would then become the scene of my little one's mischief.

A place of one's own is very important. I really enjoyed your telling us about finding the desk, buying it, and then the effort to find the right place for it. I know that many of us have had similar experiences. Thank you for allowing us this glimpse into your creative spaces, Risa. We certainly appreciate it!

Don't forget to stop by next Wednesday when I'll be featuring another book blogger from our worldwide community!

Bisbee Stairmaster This Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Click to view full size. More Wordless Wednesday.

The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:23:00 +0000

Title: The House at Sea's End
Author: Elly Griffiths
ISBN: 9780547506142
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012
Hardcover, 384 pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Police Procedural, #3 Dr. Ruth Galloway mystery
Rating: A
Source: Amazon Vine

First Line: The tide is out.

Forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway has just returned from maternity leave and is discovering how very difficult it is to juggle a newborn baby and the career that she loves. She is called in when a team surveying the effects of erosion on the Norfolk coast find bones in a ravine along the shoreline.

The bones date to World War II, and when Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson and his men begin asking questions, a Home Guard veteran reveals the existence of a secret that he and some other old soldiers have vowed to keep "to the death." It would appear that someone doesn't trust the old man because he is killed... and then a German journalist shows up and begins asking his own questions. Someone is insisting that these secrets be kept. With Ruth's help, Harry intends to find that person before anyone else can die.

Although this third book in the series stands on its own well, I would suggest beginning at the beginning because the relationships between the characters grow and develop throughout the books. In some ways this series bears a superficial resemblance to Julia Spencer-Fleming's which features the Reverend Clare Fergusson and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne, and Griffiths' series is every bit as strong.

Griffiths uses the setting of the crumbling cliffs and shoreline of Norfolk, England, as well as the ages of those who are hiding secrets to add tension and a sense of urgency to the book. In fact, I was so focused on the secretive old men that I completely forgot about trying to deduce the identity of the person who wanted the secrets kept the most.

Although the plot line involving World War II is absorbing, the ever-evolving relationship between Ruth and Harry is just as important. I really enjoyed watching Ruth trying to adapt to being a mother and Harry becoming more and more focused on a fascinating woman whom, not so very long ago, he never would've looked at twice.

Emotions will be coming to a boil. Lines will be drawn. Sides will be taken. And DCI Harry Nelson will continue to need Dr. Ruth Galloway's expertise with bones. This series just keeps on getting better. I've barely finished this book, and I'm already craving the next!

The House at Sea's End at Amazon.

The House at Sea's End at The Book Depository.

The House at Sea's End at Your Favorite Indie Bookseller.

The Rooted Tree Test

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

You Are Unique

You are both vulnerable and emotionally strong. You understand that vulnerability doesn't make you weak.

You are romantic. You have a sentimental side to you, and you believe in true love.

You have a lot to be happy about. You are thankful for the life you've been given.

You believe that the most important thing is to be true to yourself. Only you know your heart's real desires.

The Rooted Tree Test