Silent Bite

Finished November 27

Silent Bite by David Rosenfelt

This is a novel in a long mystery series starring semi-retired criminal lawyer Andy Carpenter. Andy and his friend and former client Willie run the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue organization named after one of Andy's dogs. 

Willie has come to Andy with a request to represent his former cellmate Tony Birch, who is in jail for murder. The case seems cut and dried, but to Andy it seems like it's a little too wrapped up for the crime. He agrees to take it on partly because of Willie and partly because Tony has adopted one of dogs from the rescue organization. When one murder becomes two and then three, Andy isn't so sure, but he follows the logic of his client's case to find the truth. Why would someone who had left a criminal organization and been clean for years suddenly begin to kill? Or is someone framing him for these crimes? 

The tone of the novel is a cross between old-fashioned detective stories and dad humour. The plot is more complex, with a couple surprises along the way. 

In for a Penny

Finished November 26

In for a Penny by Kelsey Browning and Nancy Naigle

This cosy mystery has elements of humour and craziness. Set in small town Georgia, it begins with Lillian Summer Fairview dealing with the situation she discovers after her husband's death. The entirety of what she is dealing with only comes to the reader gradually. Lillian wanted to give her husband a proper funeral, and to get the money to do that she committed a crime. She is now readying herself for a trip to jail.

Part of her plan was to get her friend Maggie, also a widow, to move into her large house, a listed property that has been handed down in her family for generations. She also leaves instructions for Maggie to retrieve her car from the prison parking lot. Maggie doesn't discover the full situation until after Lillian is gone, and she tries to protect her friend's privacy and reputation.

The local police chief is a good man, but Lillian has kept him unaware of her situation as well. He drops into the house often and finds himself assisting the women with maintenance as it arises. When he is asked to move along an RV trying to camp in the local Walmart parking lot, something compels him to move them the Lillian's property. There, the RV owner Sera finds herself befriending Lillian and Maggie. When the chief is asked to intervene in another senior lady's travels, she ends up at Lillian's as well. 

There the three women look at Lillian's situation without her and determine that there is someone else involved who shouldn't be getting away scot-free, and they begin an investigation that has them determined to get their man.

I liked the characters, who started out looking like caricatures, but became more nuanced as the story unfolded. There is humour, intelligence, and southern charm here, and they all bring something to the situation.

Flying by the Seat of My Knickers

Finished November 24

Flying by the Seat of My Knickers by Eliza Watson

This is the first book in a series called The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw. Caity is from the Chicago area, and has recently had a few setbacks, both personally and professionally. She'd been in a long term relationship and hadn't realized how bad it was until someone approached her in a restaurant washroom and offered assistance. Emotional and mental abuse is often enacted gradually over time and when one is in it, it is hard to see the reality. When she decided to leave the relationship, the resulting situation also affected her work and she lost her job.

Now her sister Rachel, who works in event planning, has given her a position at an event in Ireland. She takes it, hoping to regain the previous close relationship she had with Rachel, but is finding herself worried about the mistakes she makes. She finds herself taken under the wing of another member of the team, Declan, a freelance event worker, who tells her stories of his own event mishaps to make her feel better.

Rachel is very busy as the lead for this event, and doesn't have the time to spend with Caity, but Declan seems tuned in to her and usually appears to assist her when something goes wrong. As she gains confidence, Caity discovers that she actually enjoys the work, despite the distractions of calls from her parents about job opportunities, her debt issues, and the worry over whether her ex is still following her. 

I enjoyed the characters of Caity and Declan, who we saw the most in the novel, and how we learned gradually of their situations. Caity is making a fresh start, never an easy thing, and we can see her grow here. I also enjoyed the travel aspect of the novel, learning more about Ireland. A fun read, with many touches of humour.  

Another Time and Place

Finished November 22

Another Time and Place by Samantha Grosser

This novel is set in 1944 and 1945 and has two voices. One of them is Anna Pilgrim, a young Englishwoman, brought up by a disgruntled divorced mother in a poor household. She is now working in the office of a munitions factory, overseen by a man whose family used to live near hers. The second is Tom Blake, a young American bomber pilot from the western United States. 

They meet in a café on Anna's day off and during Tom's leave. They connect in a way that neither of them expects and spend the next week together mostly in a hotel near Tom's base. When he goes on a mission and doesn't return, Anna returns home to her mother's anger, and goes back to work. 

Her mother is pressuring her to marriage, to a man they know, but in whom Anna has no interest. Besides, she is waiting for Tom as they had already made plans to marry. 

Tom, meanwhile, was injured when his plane went down and doesn't know what happened to the rest of his crew. As we see him worry about Anna and try to get messages to her but receives no response, he vacillates between hope and despair. 

This is a romance story of immediate attraction, followed by unplanned separation, that tugs at the emotions. As we see each character and know that the other longs for them, we are drawn in to the worry that they may not reconnect despite their feelings. I found myself caught up in the story. Anna is a strong woman with an independent attitude, and who luckily has a close supportive friend. Her relationship with her mother is antagonistic and has never been a good one. The characters have depth and motivations that make sense. A good read. 

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

Finished November 22

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Bailey

This reflective book has been on my shelves for a long time. A memoir that began when she was bedridden with an undiagnosed illness, and found herself distracted by a snail that came into her room courtesy of a friend who brought it in along with a pot of wild violets. She isn't sure why her friend thought this was a good idea at first, but soon finds herself observing the snail as it goes about its day. She saw that it was nibbling on paper that was located near the pot, and offered it wilted flowers from the vases that visitors had brought. It also eagerly drank from the overflow on the dish below the pot when she watered the violets. When she awoke during the night and listened, she could hear the sound of the snail chewing on its food choice. 

After a few weeks, with the help of a carer, she was able to create a terrarium for it, from a discarded glass aquarium and local plants. A little research allowed her to learn more and she began offering it mushrooms, which it obviously loved. She was able to borrow a more scientific series of books on snails, allowing her to identify what kind of snail it was, and she continued to observe and enjoy.

The snail offered her something calm to focus on, and something to care for. It filled a need that she hadn't realized existed.

I enjoyed learning about snails along with her, and seeing her gradual improvement physically. This was a book that felt best reading slowly, reflecting and returning to after a few days. A pleasure to read. 

Work with Me

Finished November 20

Work with Me by Michelle McCraw

This is the first of a series of books set around a technology company, called Synergy. The series is called Synergy Office Romance. 

As the novel opens, Alicia has arrived to her first job for her own consultancy company. She has a strong mentor, Jamila, who has been encouraging and suggested her for this job. As she arrives a typical Austin hailstorm is starting and she darts across the street from the parking to the office tower. Unfortunately a ball of hail hits her right at her front hairline. A man waiting under the overhang assists her with the wound and the two have definite chemistry, but her pulls back, declining her offer of a coffee date.

Once inside her meeting, she finds one of the cofounders of the company, Cooper Fallon, had hired her to get a technology project back on track, and Jay, the other cofounder and the man she met earlier, was the team lead on the project. 

As the two work out how to work together and Alicia works to get the team back to the expected timeline, Jay and Alicia are forced to work closely together and get to know some of each other's personal lives. Alicia lives in a close family unit, and is responsible for her young nephew Noah. Jay has a blunder on his corporate record, and has been trying to make up for it ever since, supported by his assistant Marlee.

Both have past relationships they regret and are careful about starting anything new without feeling strongly positive about it. The technology language seems right and adds to the authenticity. A fun read.

One Perfect Couple

Finished November 18

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

The main character here is Lyla, a vaccine scientist who has been dating her actor boyfriend Nico for nearly three years. Lyla has been working short-term contracts for quite a while and her current one isn't going well as she has been unable to replicate the results of a former researcher. Nico has also been unable to find steady work.

One day Nico proposes that they compete on a new reality show called One Perfect Couple, which is sort of a combination of Survivor and The Bachelor. There isn't a lot of lead time on the project, but Lyla eventually agrees to make Nico happy. She arranges to do the write-up for her research while on the trip, since she is pretty much finished the lab work. 

The setting for the show is a resort that is being built on a small island a long boat ride from Jakarta. The couples begin to get to know each other on the boat ride, and Lyla finds herself coached by the others on how to act for the cameras and not look awkward.

Before the ship gets to the island all the participants are required to give up their devices, so as not to give away any information about the show. 

The other couples are a mix of actors and influencers except Joel, who is a college teacher. The pair ups are Joel and Romi, Dan and Santana, Bayer and Angel, and Conor and Zana. 

There is a lot of information that Lyla wasn't privy to, due to the and Nico being added last minute. This definitely affects the way things unfold. There is some drama between the participants and the resort isn't anywhere near ready for people to stay. The staff is non existent and the food offered to the couples very limited. When a storm hits the island on the first night things begin to go downhill quick. Soon, instead of people helping each other survive it seems that someone is determined to be the last one left. 

Full of suspense and with interesting characters, this is a real page-turner. 

Crescent Calling

Finished November 17

Crescent Calling by Nicole R. Taylor

This is the first book in The Crescent Witch Chronicles series. The main character is Skye Williams, a young woman from Australia who is dealing with the recent loss of her job and her boyfriend and spending time at her late father's beach house. While there, she is visited by a strange small Irishman who tells her that her estranged mother has died and left her everything she owns, which includes a house and a shop in Ireland. She must go to Ireland to inherit.

In the small town of Derrydun, she finds herself the owner of a successful new age shop with a capable Goth employee and a lovely small house. There is also a cat who seems quite comfortable staying with her every night.

She's still not sure whether she wants to stay or sell up and go back to Australia until she sees the attractive young Irishman who's helpful to all around town change into a fox in front of her. Boone came to town a few years ago and stayed with her aunt until moving into his own place. He gives her some information on her mother and her mother's death and lets her know that she's the last in a line of local witches known as Crescent Witch. He also lets her know about imminent threats to their community and what she might be expected to do to combat them. As she learns how to wield the powers she has inherited, she also finds herself growing roots into the community.

I enjoyed this light fantasy as well as the touch of romance it promises. Skye is strong and open and a woman who is kind at heart. The plot  is a good opener to the fantasy element and promises more in future books. 

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

Finished November 16

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

This novel adds an element of fantasy to our own world. The time is 1983 and Susan Arkshaw, who has lived in the country with her mother has decided to take the time before she starts at art school to look for her father. She doesn't have much to go on. She has a few names, including one who sent holiday cards to her mom and her regularly. She starts with this, a man named Frank Thringley in London. She senses right off that he isn't her father and that things are quite right and determines to leave after staying the night. But during the night she wakes to find that someone has turned Frank to dust by the prick of a silver hairpin. She surprises the man, Merlin and threatens him with the police, but soon finds herself following him out the window as they both flee something else that threatens. 

As she learns of strange creatures such the Shuck, as the two walk through the night, they share their stories. She learns about the booksellers and the differences between the right-handed and the left-handed in skill set, and how they police the interaction between the mythic levels of the Old World and the reality of the human world. They are soon rescued by the police, and Susan is provided with a room in a safe house and finds herself a job. 

As she renews her acquaintance with Merlin, and meets his twin sister, she gradually gets to learn more about the strange elements of the world she hadn't been aware of before and finds herself involved to an extent she didn't expect. 

I really enjoy Garth Nix and his stories, and this one not only has great fantasy elements, but also lots of humour. There is also an attraction between Susan and Merlin and others also notice. I definitely found this novel hard to put down, and I'm interested in reading more of this series. 

Delicate Ink

Finished November 16

Delicate Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan

This is the first book in a series around the Montgomery family. Set in Denver, Colorado, the central family has several adult children, and their parents. There are also additional cousins that make a family get-together quite large. For this novel Austin Montgomery is the central male character. He runs a tattoo studio with his younger sister and a close friend. 

New to town is Sierra Elder. She has opened a women's clothing store across the street from the studio. Sierra has some trauma in her past that hasn't been entirely put to rest. She's tried to move on, but hasn't been able to escape certain aspects of it. We gradually learn about this past through the story. She's made friends with the woman that runs the café next door to Montgomery Ink, and has been thinking about getting a tattoo, but she carries herself with elegance and usually opts for higher end clothing like that sold in her shop.

Austin has full tattoo sleeves, as well as other body art and a beard, and his looks leans rougher than the average. He also loves to ride his motorcycle, which adds to that image. When the two meet, there is both attraction and some less positive energy, but they do gradually become more friendly. 

Austin has an ex that is a little possessive, and he is dealing with a family health issue that has him worried. He also has other worries about siblings and cousins that are touched on, and may lead to plots in the other books in the series. There are other plot surprises that add new issues to the story.

There is a subplot of an interest in BDSM sexual practices that is discussed and seen. 

The relationship seems to move quite quickly, and the story seems to jump forward by weeks at times, so I found myself missing the nuances of the relationship development, wondering how they got to this new dynamic. Interesting characters, and the plot kept me interested. 

Sunshine and Spice

Finished November 15

Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit

This romance is set in Kelowna. We see the story from two points of view, the main female character Naomi Kelly and the main male character Dev Mukherjee. Naomi has her own brand consulting business, one she started after working in a larger corporate firm for several years. I wasn't familiar with this business, but it seems to cover a lot more than I would have thought. She proposes a reuse or redesign for space, and works with a construction contractor to bring it to life. It seems to involve a lot of elements of interior design. The story opens with her preparing for a bid on a job, the redesign of what has been for many years a bazaar run by an Indian family, carrying a wide variety of merchandise and rather cluttered at the moment. The owner lost her husband a few months ago and is now ready to face moving forward. 

Dev is the owner's son, who has recently moved back home from Penticton. He hasn't told his mother that he resigned from his job as a corporate accountant to pursue a different dream of his own. But his mother uses his presence to move forward with a different plan, finding him a wife. She hires a matchmaker looking for an Indian bride. She doesn't mind if the woman isn't Bengali, but Indian culture and its practices and traditions is important to her. 

Naomi is Indian, but hasn't been brought up in the culture. Her parents relationship wasn't approved of, and the young couple moved away. Her father moved on when she was just a toddler, and her mother married a local man in the Alberta town they lived in. Naomi is very close to her stepfather, sharing a love of sports with him. She isn't as close to her mother, who is into yoga and meditation and changes her other interests regularly. She has had no contact with her father or other relatives.

When Naomi's plan to remake the space as a family-run café is approved, and she and Dev run into each other while he is trying to escape a meeting with a potential wife, the two decide to help each other. Dev will help her on cultural aspects of the design and introduce her to Indian culture locally. She will pretend to be his girlfriend when they encounter any potential wives. Dev hopes to outlast his mother's plans. 

As they spend time together, they grow closer, but there are still barriers with Naomi's upbringing and Dev's family.

I enjoyed learning more about Indian culture and Naomi's business work, and I liked the plot. Dev definitely needed to grow a bit more backbone when it comes to his family, and Naomi needs to feel less insecure about her cultural knowledge. I liked the Canadian setting and reading a new author. 

Date the Alphabet

Finished November 14

Date the Alphabet by Laura Langa

This romance is the second book in a series set in Tucson. Here the female main character is a teacher in a private school, Ann Powell. Ann excels as a teacher because she really puts her heart into it. Not only does she work hard for her own students, but she offers free tutoring and donates supplies to teachers in the public system who are underfunded. She doesn't date, and doesn't socialize much. Her younger sister Rene is getting married, for the third time, and when they are discussing wedding details tells Ann that she must bring a plus one, and says that if she starts by working her way through the alphabet (by men's names) and finds true love, her sister will give her $4000 for her charitable work. 

Ann really doesn't want to do this, but agrees for the prize at the end. With the help of a fellow teacher who is a friend, Kennedy, she signs up to a dating app and begins. She finds a lot of duds, as well as some who leave her very unsettled. In a moment of desperation, she asks a student's father if he will attend with her and pretend they have fallen for each other. 

Zane West and his wife Tessa separated after her recovery from cancer, but remained great friends. She is about to move in with her new boyfriend Isaac, while he hasn't even dated yet. They both love their daughter Caroline, and worry about how she has dealt with the trauma of her mother's illness and their separation. They knew things weren't working for a while, but had been hanging together for Caroline. After Tessa's recovery they agreed that they deserved happiness and separated. Caroline is a quiet, but observant kid who loves art and draws a lot. 

Zane had been attracted to Caroline's third grade teacher since he first met her, but held back from any move due to worry about Caroline's feelings and about the ethics of dating his child's teacher. When Ann proposes that he be her fake date for Rene's wedding he agrees, but the events that they attend over the next few weeks have them both feeling the attraction.

I liked the plot, the details of their jobs (Zane is an audiobook narrator), and the touches of humour. There are other things influencing their actions and we come to see how and why they do gradually. A very enjoyable read. 

Death on Torrid Ave

Finished November 12

Death on Torrid Ave. by Patricia McLinn

This is the second book in the Secret Sleuth series and the first with the main character Sheila Mackey in her new home in north west Kentucky. She has adopted a rescue dog, collie Gracie, who is about a year old, and Sheila is intent on being a good dog owner. She goes regularly to a dog park near here, one that has four different areas all accessed by gates from a central area. Two are intended for small dogs and two for larger dogs. There are a lot of people who use the park, and among them are two men who have a longstanding disagreement regarding proper dog training, Bob Coble and Dwight Yagos. They argue a lot and both have a group of followers. There are also many people that try to avoid those two factions. 

Sheila has made a friend, Clara, who has a dog Lulu that Gracie loves to play with. She is also working on repairs and changes to her older house. She's looking for a contractor now to add shelving in a couple of rooms, but has been disappointed in the lack of professionalism in the ones that she's contacted, who either come late to appointments or don't show up at all. 

To avoid being outed as the famous author she previously pretended she was, she has come up with a backstory of being an English teacher in upstate New York who has received a small inheritance allowing her to retire. 

When the two women befriend another new arrival in town Teague O'Donnell and his dog Murphy. He's a substitute teacher and a tutor. Sheila worries about whether him also being a teacher might jeopardize her cover story, and he does ask a lot of questions. But when he turns out to be handy, she hires him to do the shelving project in her home. 

Soon, though, there are more things to worry about, when one of the regulars at the dog park turns up dead in the park without their dog. With Sheila and Clara making the discovery, the local law enforcement seems to focus on Sheila as a newcomer. She and Clara decide to do a little investigating on their own. 

I liked the characters, including the details that gradually came out as the story unfolded. I liked the dogs and how the different breeds and individual dogs had their own quirks. The plot worked well, and didn't feel contrived. I like this series.

Elizabeth's Dreams of Egypt

Finished November 11

Elizabeth's Dreams of Egypt by Cassie Miller

This novella is from an unnumbered series of books that reuse characters from the classic Pride and Prejudice in different settings, circumstances, etc. Here, the situation is that Jane has been kidnapped by Wickham, and the family is distressed. Darcy comes to Jane and she confesses what has her upset. As he attempts to trace them, he manages to be partially successful. 

Elizabeth, accompanied by her aunt, goes by ship with Darcy and Bingley to Egypt where the trail takes them. As the ship stops in various locations, Elizabeth enjoys the new experiences, but her focus remains on her sister.

This is a short book, with little explanation or detail, and no real inner thoughts included. Really just a mechanism for reusing the characters and parts of the original story. While I read the book to meet a challenge for a book set in Egypt, and there were some descriptions of historical sites, it feels dishonest to use it for that challenge, so I won't be.

An Academic Affair

Finished November 10

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister

This is a romance novel with its own special setting and the details are so well done. Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals since first year university where they argued interpretations during an English seminar. They have also lived in the same large shared house with several other roommates in Sydney since Jonah's master degree time when Sadie was working to save up money. They ended up graduating with their English literature Ph.Ds. at the same time and have both been working at whatever teaching jobs they could since then. I really liked how this novel showed academia for what it truly is, underpaid, lots of unrecognized time spent in prep and marking, and few opportunities for permanent positions. 

When a permanent position is announced at the university in Hobart, both are aware the other will be applying. For Sadie, who specialized in popular fiction, the job mentions this as one of the specialties they are looking for, something that is rare indeed. For Jonah, the permanent position also mentions his specialty as one of the three they are looking for. Plus he has strong motivation to move close to his sister Fiona, who is dealing with the end of her marriage. 

When Sadie is going over the contract, she notes that their is an option for partner hire. This is an interesting detail of academic that definitely shows possibilities, the idea that one's life partner could also get a position, making the move more appealing to couples. 

Sadie approaches Jonah with the idea of getting married so that they both get the job, after all they are already living in the same house, which works to make it look that they've been together for a while.

The personal side of their lives was also something that added to their character. Sadie is very close to her older sister who pretty much raised her. Jonah grew up with a professor father who encouraged debate among his children and pushed them toward academia, something that only Fiona rebelled against. But Jonah knows that this advantage isn't always something he likes in his life, and makes choices about his own wants when he can. 

There is also a storyline around wine, with Sadie's sister having a passion for the national wine industry, and Fiona being close to two brothers who run a winery and restaurant. With Jonah's older brother having his own competitive rival, I can see possibilities for more books involving these characters.

This a read with believable characters with depth, interesting career and personal situations, and both fun banter and serious conversations. A definite winner for me. 

6:40 to Montreal

Finished November 9

6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk

This locked room mystery is quite the page-turner. The narrator is Agatha, a woman who wrote a mystery book featuring a yoga instructor that became a best seller. Now, she's trying to work on a second book, but is coming up short on ideas. She's also been undergoing cancer treatment and as a result has been stuck in a depression. Her husband Teddy has given her a gift of a business-class, round-trip ticket from Toronto to Montreal by train, thinking that she can use the uninterrupted, mostly internet-free journey there and back to write. She's a little disappointed in the gift, which doesn't even include a night in Montreal before returning, and she has planned something on her own that he isn't aware of.

It a day of a winter storm, and by the time Agatha gets down to Union Station the snow is coming down quite intensely. The attendant, Dorcas, seems professional and friendly and then gets distracted by the task of teaching an intern the basics of the job. Agatha is one of the first people on the car, and notices a mother and young adult son, Vivien and Rupinder get on because they are seated in the emergency exit row, and Dorcas explains the emergency procedure to them. 

The car isn't full, yet an older man, Finch Weatherby, sits beside her and tries to get her to give up her seat to him. She takes an immediate dislike to him, and that only increases as he makes some loud phone calls that are abusive and demeaning to the person on the other end. A couple other people get on, but Agatha has been distracted by Finch and doesn't really notice them.

She still has trouble focusing on writing and finds her mind going in other directions. When the train suddenly stops and all but emergency power goes off, the passengers begin to ask questions and worry about how long they will be stopped. When they discover that one of the passengers is dead, they begin to suspect each other. As the passengers begin to get more anxious and the tension increases, they find even more to worry about and tensions continue to build. The doors on their car have been locked in the emergency and they can't move away from each other. 

Fast-moving and dark, this novel offers lots of twisty elements. 

Did one of them kill the passenger, and if so, why? 

A London Year

Finished November 9

A London Year: 365 Days of City Life in Diaries, Journals and Letters compiled by Travis Elborough and Nick Rennison

This collection is fascinating, giving glimpses of life in London from the 16th century to the 21st century. The collection includes journalists, actors, nobility, royalty, writers, poets, musicians and many more. The subjects range widely from food and housing to entertainments, money, sex, friendship, society, geography, architecture, and politics. The length also varies, from single sentences to multiple pages, although most are a paragraph or two. 

The book is arranged by the days of the year, with some days having only one entry while others have several. I enjoyed trying to guess the rough year of the entry by the subject and language before looking to see it. I tended to read a month in a sitting, thinking about the time of year, and researching a little if I wasn't familiar with the diarist or writer. The compilers included occasional notes to explain some references to people or events they thought needed additional explanation.

A fascinating look at a city through the eyes of residents and visitors.

The Midnight Feast

Finished November 8

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

This suspense novel moves between present day and several years earlier in the summer of 2010, with the earlier portion mainly told through diary entries. Set in a coastal English town, the present day is the summer solstice, opening weekend of a luxury resort called The Manor. Besides the main building with its rooms, bar, and restaurant, there are seaside cottages and 'Woodland Hutches' which are small cabins nestled in the surrounding woods. The primary owner is Francesca Meadows who inherited the property from her grandmother. Secondary investors include her two older brothers, Hugo and Oscar. Francesca has also recently married Owen Dacre, the up-and-coming architect she hired for the project. Owen is still working on the newest addition, Treehouse rooms in the woods. 

Most of the staff aren't local, but there are a few. Eddie is one of them. He works as a dishwasher, but has his eye on a bartender position. His parents' nearby farm isn't doing well, and he has plans that don't include it. The locals aren't fans of what Francesca has plans, and talk of the local tales of The Birds that come for those who have done evil or for whom someone has asked for vengeance on has started to grow. Even Francesca's grandfather warned her to be wary of The Birds before his death. 

In the summer of 2010, we see Francesca and her brothers choosing favourites among the summer people and locals, inviting them to the manor, and having select parties. Alison, spending the summer at the local trailer park with her parents and grandparents, is the girl Francesca (known as Frankie back then) has chosen. It is her diary we read. But Alison also meets some locals, at the beach and at the trailer park, and they too become part of the story.

We know something happened back in 2010, something Alison needs closure about, but it is something only revealed later in the story. What we do know, is that the morning after the big Solstice event, the hotel is on fire, and at least one person is dead.

I found the plot compelling and the characters well-drawn. Dark and with lots of surprises. 

Life: A Love Story

Finished November 6

Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

I love Elizabeth Berg, so when I was given the opportunity to read her upcoming book a little early, I was very excited. It did not disappoint. This story is narrated by Florence 'Flo' Greene, a ninety-two-year-old widow who is nearing the end of her life. She and her late husband didn't have children of their own, but they were very close to a child who lived next door, Ruthie, and Ruthie spent a lot of time at their house growing up. Flo plans to leave the house and its contents to Ruthie and decides to write her a letter explaining some of the contents of the house that are special to her and why. She also worries that Ruthie, who she senses has been going through a difficult time in her marriage, might give up too easily, and so she shares some of the marital issues that she's dealt with and how working through them was part of the normal work involved in a marriage, and would bring the two partners closer. 

The story is told partly through the long letter that Flo writes, over the course of weeks, and partly through Flo's life now as it is happening. 

Flo enjoys visits from her neighbour's aging dog, having loved him since he was a puppy. She sees the people on her street going off to school and work, and greets them from her front porch and on her walks. She notices a woman across the street and begins an ongoing conversation with her that leads to friendship, reminding us again that we can be friends with people of all ages. She goes to the library, and she becomes closer to a woman of her own generation that she always admired.

Flo has loved her home, her garden, her neighbourhood, and believes in kindness and community. She has a secret or two of her own that she feels moved to share with the right person or people when it seems like the right time. 

Flo is a voice that reminds us that we are not alone in this world, that love comes in many forms, and that noticing the people around us and what they would appreciate is one of the most important and kind things that we can do.

Highly recommended.

Fates Divided

Finished November 4

Fates Divided by Jules Bernard

This is the first novel in the Halven Rising series. Set partly in our world and partly in a Fae world called Tirnan, this is a novel that brings the worlds together in an interesting way. Elena is enjoying college, studying chemistry, and becoming friends with her roommate Reese. Her mother left shortly after she was born, and her father died in a farm accident, but she is close to her cousin and grandmother. When she turns eighteen, odd things begin to happen. She sees a classroom where one doesn't exist and her senses seem more acute. When a group of tall blondes take her into an academic area she's not seen before and tell her that she is half-Fae (Halven) and needs to help them with a cure to a deadly disease killing Fae, she is overwhelmed. 

Then she meets Derek, a student who was offered a research opportunity to come to this college, who also has some unusual skills. She finds out that he is also Halven, and he's protective of her in terms of the Fae, who only seem to want what they think she can do.

As Elena discovers who her mother is and feels that going to the Fae world will be the only way to accomplish the task she's been given, she finds that the Fae themselves are divided but most of them seem to agree that Halven are inferior and undeserving of life. 

As Elena and Derek collaborate, others work to come between them and gain power for their own purposes. 

This novel is fast-moving with lots of characters and no clarity on who can be trusted. This series progresses in the combined worlds with each book, but each book is also a stand-alone story around a couple. The world-building is detailed enough for the plot without getting caught up in the details. 

Funny Story

Finished November 4, 2025

Funny Story by Emily Henry

This romance novel was a quick read, as I got totally caught up in the story. Daphne moved to Michigan from Vermont with her fiancé Peter, finding a dream job as a children's librarian in the small town. As the novel opens, Peter returns from his bachelor party only to inform her that he is in love with his female best friend Petra, a tall blonde elegant woman that he's always assured Daphne is just a friend. They are leaving for a couple of weeks to give Daphne time to find a new place to live and move out. Daphne is shattered, and the next person to appear at her door is equally shattered, Petra's boyfriend Miles. So Daphne decides that she will move in with him and he agrees.

At first they grieve their losses separately, but another shared dig at their loss brings them together, Daphne makes a questionable choice in deception, and Miles offers to show her around this area of Michigan, which she hasn't really explored. Daphne also begins interacting more with her co-workers, starting with her adult librarian counterpart Ashleigh. 

I could relate to the librarian side of things, and feel for the sudden change of heart of Daphne's fiancé. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the outings that Miles and Daphne took as they explored the area, and loved Ashleigh's character. The author has written another satisfying and fun-filled read that is great to curl up with and immerse oneself in. 

Always You and Me

Finished November 2

Always You and Me by Dani Atkins

This romance novel has a lot of surprises as the plot unwinds. The story moves around in time, but the chapter headings clearly indicate this. The story opens as Lily is with her husband Adam in hospice and we learn why he is there and the story of his illness and death.

It then jumps forward a year and we see Lily thinking about one of the promises that she made to Adam that she still hasn't followed up on, tracking down her former best friend Josh, hearing his story, and mending their friendship. Lily was very hurt by Josh's action of ending their friendship on the eve of her wedding with Adam, and we gradually learn details of what happened around that time. Since then he's disappeared from her life, and she hasn't even heard anything about him. She's not even sure where to start.

The book jumps back in time then to the beginning of Josh and Lily's friendship and the way that Lily bridged Josh's walls to become an important person in his life. As we see their history unfold, we see the special relationship that they had. 

We also see how Adam came into Lily's life and into her heart, and how special their relationship was. As the real story of these relationships and the rift in Lily's friendship is explained, we see the choices that these people made and the ones that Lily and Josh face now.

A moving novel. 

Aug 9 - Fog

Finished November 1

Aug 9 - Fog by Kathryn Scanlan

This is a very odd little book. It originated from a diary that the author found at an estate auction. The diary in question began when the author, a woman, was eighty-six and covers the years 1968 through 1972. The entries were ones that described life in a small community where the writer had lived for years if not her whole life. She talked about her friends and neighbours, the weather, the nature around her, household chores, social visits, and family.

Scanlan decided to play with the sentences that drew her in, cutting, editing, rearranging, and placing them into this new work. The work is arranged by seasons, with the sentences chosen reflecting their time of year. Each page has only a few sentences on it, and it reads almost like poetry. This is a book that invites reflection.

Mango Muffin Murder

Finished October 29

Mango Muffin Murder by Emma Johns

This novella is the start of a series set in Jamaica, where Petrona McGibben has been coming for years to visit family and has recently decided to move to and open her own bakery. Petrona bought a small bed and breakfast, which a family member runs, and the abandoned bakery next to it, which she fixed up. She lives in a small apartment over the bakery. At first, her usual baked goods were so different from what islanders were used to, she thought she was going to fail. Now she has started acting on suggestions (or dares) from her customers and family. Her newest product is the Mango Muffin, and it appears to be a hit. She's had to make more during the morning as it sells out. But when one of her customers dies shortly after eating one, she becomes a suspect in a murder case.

Luckily her family has a plan to clear her name, even if they don't keep her in the loop at times. She also has goodwill in the community, from her family ties, to her friendly open demeanour. She's a good person, feeding a young man recently kicked out of school for fighting despite his academic success, who now worries about his future.

I liked Petrona, as well as the policeman in charge of her case. I see potential romance in future books. A fun, quick read. Also included is a glossary of Jamaican terms which came up in the novel. 

The Bridesmaid

Finished October 28

The Bridesmaid by Cate Quinn

This is a dark novel, as seems to be common for this author. The suspense builds as we move through the book, especially when we move from the beginning New York City location to the island of Elysium, a privately owned island off the coast of Colombia. In a hotel in New York, where Adrianna Kensington is gathering with her bridesmaid before a final dress fitting, one of the bridesmaid's is found hanging in a ballroom, posed in a bridal gown, with other gowns hanging beside her. The bridesmaid was an investigative journalist working on a story about the bride's kidnapping, which occurred at her 21st birthday party on Elysium. She was found locked in the estate's panic room three days after going missing, and the case is still unsolved.

Holly, a forensic expert who was mentored by the dead bridesmaid, is brought in by the police and Adriana's fiancé to help with the new murder case. She has also been cast as the replacement bridesmaid to avoid too many people being told her real purpose. As her assistant, a senior police officer accompanies her. 

The original bridesmaids were all former students at the private Kensington School, owned by Adriana's family. The school began on Elysium, later moving to New York. 

As Holly works her way deeper into the case, she also works her way into the family history, and what is currently happening on the island. It also seems that the murder case and kidnapping case are linked in some way. 

I liked the character of Holly who has lots of tricks up her sleeve, but who is also emotional about the loss of her friend. Her police partner is key to her success, calming her down if needed and helping her focus on each situation.  

Fatima's Room

Finished October 27

Fatima's Room by Charlotte S. Gray

This short novel is intense. Fatima is a young woman, a middle daughter in a family of six girls. Her father is strict and often cruel. As the book opens we learn that Fatima is staying in a room by herself at her maternal uncle's. She is there because she has caused her father's death. We gradually learn the circumstances of this, the decision that the family will be undertaking about her fate, and how various other members of her family feel about this.

Fatima was able to be in college because her aunt and grandmother arranged it while her father was away. She longs for a future as a writer, and her uncle has given her a blank book and encouraged her to write while she is waiting. It is the time of Ramadan, and the verdict will come after this time is over.

The novel was inspired by the author's work in Sudan with the education of young women, as they told her of their lives and dreams after growing to trust her. She was aware of the limited lives these woman faced, and of punishments such as honour killings for various rebellious acts. She began to wonder what would happen to someone who struck out in anger, fear, or frustration with such a result. We see her feelings about realizing this is the first time she's had a room of her own.

We see Fatima struggle as she is offered options, and the guilt she feels along with the relief. A very interesting read. 

The Doorman

Finished October 25

The Doorman by Chris Pavone

This novel is a slow build, giving background on the three main characters: the doorman of the Bohemia, a historical luxury apartment building in Manhattan, Chicky Diaz, a widower with two adult daughters, who is still trying to pay off his late wife's medical bills; Emily Longworth, who lives in the penthouse suite at the Bohemia with her husband and two young children and who is facing recent revelations about the sources of her despised husband's income and questioning what she is willing to live with; and Julian Sonnenberg, an art dealer who lives on a lower floor with his wife and teenage daughter, and who is facing both a career and a personal crisis. 

On a larger level, a Black man has recently been killed by the police, resulting in demonstrations and outbursts of violence. Most of the staff of the building are black and are unsettled by the news. 

With Chicky's personal situation facing increasing pressure, along with the wider unease in the city, he opts to bring a gun he has just purchased along to his night shift at the building. 

Emily and her husband Whit, and Julien and his wife Jen are both at an art awards dinner. Emily is active in the arts world, both as a buyer and as a philanthropist. Julien and his business partner Ellington, a black man, have sold pieces to the Longworths. 

There has been information leaked recently about Whit Longworth's business activities and there have been protestors at the building he works at. He is considering his options. 

All three of the main characters, as well as some others, have secrets they'd rather not have widely known. They also have people who would relish in their bad luck. 

Both Emily and Julien have lived at the Bohemia for a while, Julien longer than Emily. Chicky has worked there for several decades. They have people they trust and people they don't. 

I really enjoyed this novel, as I have other of Pavone's books, both the plot and the characters. A great suspense novel with some unexpected situations. 

November Reviews for the 19th Annual Canadian Reading Challenge

 This is where you add links to reviews of the books you finished in November that meet this reading challenge. Comments are always welcome too. 

Moon of the Crusted Snow

Finished October 22

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

This is the first book in The Whitesky Saga, a post-apocalyptic series and is set in a small Anishinaabe community in Canada's north. It is approaching winter and the small community first experiences the loss of their internet service and then the loss of communications with the outside world. They don't know what is going on, what caused these outages, or how widespread the situation is. They learn a bit more when two members of the community who have been away at college manage to return, and by then, the leaders of the community have already begun plans to conserve what they have and to ensure everyone in the community is taken care of.

When new visitors arrive, the community has to decide how much to trust them, and how to include them in their plan. This novel takes place over that winter, and we see the situation as it affects children, elders, and those who didn't learn the skills of survival from the elders. We also see couples come together and couples come apart under the stress. Families take on new roles, and people spend their time in different ways, some adjusting better than others. 

This is an interesting tale, of a group of people that already have a strong sense of community, one that most communities today no longer have. It makes one start wondering how the rest of the world is dealing with similar issues and how one would respond in these circumstances.

The author is Anishinaabe himself and that brings authenticity to the book that affects how I read it. Scary, sad, and yet somehow hopeful. 

The Vanishing Place

Finished October 21

The Vanishing Place by Zoe Rankin

This suspense novel moves from the present to the past, as a young girl appears in a small New Zealand town covered in blood. She made an initial statement, giving her name as Anya, but hasn't talked further, and this statement causes the local police officer to contact Effie, who now lives in Scotland. Effie grew up in New Zealand, living deep in the bush with her parents and two siblings. When her fourth sibling is born unexpectedly, her parents are unprepared and her mother dies in childbirth. Effie takes on the care of her new brother, who they call Four. Her father is distraught and disappears for some time, returning with a woman Effie has met before briefly. As we gradually learn of Effie's past and her connection to this small town and the man who called her to return, we also deal with the present, the strange, quiet young girl who looks very much like Effie did as a child.

Returning to New Zealand awakens memories in Effie, memories both good and bad. The bad ones are of terror, terror for her family still out in the bush and what the presence of Anya means. She knows that she must return to find out, but the return to the home she grew up in brings her to a nearly empty cabin. Someone lies dead on the floor, and there are signs of confinement, but no possessions to show that anyone has been there lately besides the body. 

As Effie tries to get closer to Anya, and learn what she can from the traumatized girl, we also learn about the trauma that caused Effie to leave. 

This is a story that has more than one moment of suspense, and lots of unexpected situations and plot elements. I could hardly put it down. 

I liked Effie and could understand her choices. I also liked Anya and could understand why she was so wary of the people who tried to help, even though she'd run to them. This is a complex tale, with trauma across generations. Highly recommended. 

Spying on the South

Finished October 21

Spying on the South: An Odyssey Across the American Divide by Tony Horwitz

I've read one of his previous books about his travels in the Middle East, and enjoyed his writing, but what led me to this book was his wife Geraldine Brooks' book Memorial Days, about Tony's death and how his family coped. The death was sudden and occurred in 2019 while he was on tour for this book.  

Much of his travels for this book were in 2015 and 2016, just before Donald Trump was elected for the first time, and the state of the feelings about the United States situation and future were one of the things that this book looked at.

In terms of structure, Tony decided to follow, as much as possible, the second trip Frederick Law Olmstead made to America's south in a time where the country was also divided, just before the Civil War. Olmstead wrote articles under the name 'Yeoman' for the New York Daily Times, about his travels and the feelings about the country by the people he met then. Slavery was naturally one topic that came up often, and Texas had not yet decided on its future regarding this practice. 

The trip started in West Virginia, went along the Ohio river past Kentucky, made a sidetrip to Nashville, then back to the Mississippi river past Mississippi, and down to New Orleans. Olmstead then went by horse through Louisiana, across Texas, and into Mexico, returning through southern Texas. He travelled with his brother John

Tony followed the same route, mostly on his own, but sometimes with a friend, and did most of the land portions by car. He did have one brief excursion by mule in West Texas, but it didn't go well, and he resumed his trip a few months later in the fall of 2016. He had similar experiences in some places as Olmstead, and quite different in others, such as going into Mexico. The land itself has changed little, except what man has built upon it, and Tony has a knack for being able to gauge situations well, and talk with most people. He engaged with people at many levels across the trip, from barge workers to tour guides, chemical plant workers to farmers. I learned a lot and found his conversations eye-opening and in light of where we are today, sometimes haunting. 

A fascinating book about two interesting men nearly 175 years apart. 

Aged for Murder

Finished October 18

Aged for Murder by Fiona Grace

This is the first in a series of cosy mysteries set in Tuscany, Italy, but the novel starts out in Chicago. Olivia Glass works as an advertising executive and has lately been working on branding for a large wine company called Valley Wines and the clients love her work. The problem is that Olivia doesn't love the product, and she's found that she really wants to put her efforts into smaller enterprises. She is meeting her boyfriend Matt for dinner and has decided to tell him how she feels about her work. 

At the dinner, Olivia does tell him how she feels about the Valley Wine account and her work, but unexpectedly Matt breaks up with her. Olivia shows herself to be a confident and intelligent woman as she delves into his reasons for leaving her, and she had the admiration of several other diners at the way she handled it as well. 

She decides to go to her assistant's apartment to give Matt time to clear his stuff out of hers by the deadline she gave him, and the two enjoy the wine she brought from the restaurant, and she ended up sharing her dream of owning a vineyard in Italy herself someday. The next morning she scans her feeds and sees her oldest friend Charlotte has rented a villa in Italy for the summer, after having cancelled her upcoming wedding. When Olivia gets to the office, and finds out she will be promoted and in charge of several accounts under the same parent company as Valley Wine, she finds herself quitting on the spot, and telling Charlotte that she's going to accept her invitation to join her in Italy. 

The majority of the novel takes place in Tuscany, in and near the villa that Charlotte is renting. Olivia finds herself taking a job at a nearby family-owned winery and beginning to learn about the wine-making process. But when one of the winery's staff members is murdered, she finds herself a suspect, so determines to figure out who the killer is herself.

I liked the strong female character, who found ways to deal with the setbacks she faced, and to support her friend when that became necessary. The details about the wine industry were interesting, and the goat only added to the charm. There's even a slight hint of future romance. 

A winner. 

Ghost of a Chance

Finished October 15

Ghost of a Chance by Cate Dean

This is the first novel in a series featuring antique and collectable shop owner Maggie Mulgrew. As a child, Maggie came often to visit the small town of Holmestead, England to stay with her Aunt Irene who had an antique shop. The two bonded and became very close. When Irene died, Maggie found that she'd inherited everything from Irene's house to her shop with the flat above it. She was able to leave the U.S. and her overbearing parents and create the life she wanted, which wasn't that different from Irene's. 

Now, Maggie finds some of her stock at estate sales and auctions, and near the start of the book she attends a nearby sale and finds a few things, including a dirty, but interesting-looking box. She leaves Spencer, her best friend and employee in charge of the shop while she is away. 

Meanwhile, at Oxford, professor of archaeology Pembroke Martin has discovered that his student assistant Ken has sold the rare apothecary jar that Martin had recently acquired after a years-long search. The jar is special as a piece, but Martin wanted this particular jar because of a ghost story associated with it. Digging out the details from Ken, Martin tries to get to the auction before the jar is sold, but is too late. 

Maggie has done well at the auction, and has seen a couple of other local collectors, another dealer and the curator of a local museum. She also met Edward Carlisle, a seemingly wealthy man who made no secret of his interest in the jar, but was unsuccessful in obtaining it. 

As Martin's search leads him to Maggie, she agrees to help, but the two discover the new owner dead, and Martin is now a suspect. 

Maggie finds herself drawn to Martin, a man she has already respected and admired from his reputation and television appearances. But Martin has ties to several other people involved in the case, and she isn't entirely sure whether she should trust him.

I enjoyed the amateur investigation Maggie takes on, trying to not only find the murderer, but also to clear Martin so that she can pursue the friendly feelings she has towards him. 

She's smart, and observant, but also impulsive, and this seems like a promising start to the series. 

32 Days in May

Finished October 13

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello

This romance has an interesting twist to it. Nadia Fabiola has gone to her family's summer home in Evergreen on the Jersey Shore. She has had a life-changing diagnosis of lupus, and due to her symptoms has lost her job as an advertising director. She feels that she has lost control of her life and her body. Her mental health has suffered. She has recently begun working for one of her downstairs neighbours, Sophie, at her produce stand. She's also trying to keep her sister Liv and her parents from worrying about her.

When her rheumatologist asks her to show around his cousin, Marco, who will be house-sitting for him while his family is away, she is unsure. When she realizes that Marco the cousin is Marco Antoniou, the famous actor who has had his own setbacks, and is absolutely gorgeous, she agrees. Their first date is a crazy night, but it leads to an agreement to date each other for the rest of May, no strings attached. 

Nadia doesn't let Marco know about her lupus, and throws herself as much as she can into a normal life for the month. The two have great chemistry, but also connect in deeper ways. When the stress of some situations affects her health, she has to decide whether to come clean to him and take a risk on a real relationship.

Their dates take them not only to New York City, but also to Italy for Marco's commitments, and Nadia finds herself noting more hidden aspects of Marco. 

I enjoyed this read and the two main characters each trying to find fresh starts.

Francine's Spectacular Crash & Burn

Finished October 10

Francine's Spectacular Crash & Burn by Renee Swindle

The title character of this novel completely drew me in. She's a people pleaser, a young woman who was both dependent on her mother in some ways and supportive of her mother in others. When her mother dies suddenly, she is lost. She knows how the close relatives she has will react and avoids telling them, doing the necessary tasks when someone has died. Francine is also a hard worker at her job, a social media company called Peeps that connects people to others with the same interests. She is a glorified secretary for her boss Hayden, doing work that includes not only booking meetings and such but personal tasks like laundry and getting her coffee.

Soon after her mother's death, Francine hears a ruckus out on the street and ends up rescuing ten-year-old Davie from a group of bullies trying to take his iPad. After more encounters with Davie, the two connect in a way, both feeling like outsiders and suffering from loss. When Francine discovers that Davie's foster mother is Jeannette, a strong-willed woman with a temper that Francine had a crush on in high school, she grows close to her as well. 

As Francine struggles between trying to move forward with her newly rekindled interest in photography, and meeting new people, she also finds herself drawn to Jeanette for reasons in addition to wanting to maintain a relationship with Davie.

Francine has undeserved guilt and makes some bad choices, but she is well-intentioned and lonely, and she ends up finding friendship and support in unexpected places, and finding the strength to pull herself out of her own mess. 

I really liked Francine and found myself caring about her and about Davie. Highly recommended. 

Bury the Lead

Finished October 10

Bury the Lead by Kate Hilton and Elizabeth Renzetti

This is the first in a series of mysteries by two Canadian authors I love. I really like that they set the series in Canada, a fictional town called Port Ellis in Ontario. The main character, Cat Conway, grew up in Port Ellis, and left years ago. She had a solid career at a Toronto newspaper, and then left for a television job. After losing her temper while being harassed while trying to tape a story, she lost her job, and her marriage to a wealthy lawyer. She struggles with being there for her teenage son, and making a go of it at the local newspaper, the Quill & Packet. 

She has a good relationship with her editor and her fellow reporters, and she definitely has the skills. Renzetti's experiences definitely bring that authenticity to the character. She also has a great long-term friend for support.

As the book opens, Cat is interviewing actors working on the local theatre's season opener, Inherit the Wind. One of them is the legendary actor Eliot Fraser, whose ex-wife's family owns the theatre. Eliot is also notorious for his narcissism and the way he treats women. Another actor had his early career ruined by Eliot, although he has since made a name for himself and is well-regarded. 

Years before Eliot got his start in this same theatre, and there are many rumours about what happened that summer. When Eliot is found dead, and Cat is on the scene, there are plenty of potential suspects. With the case drawing international attention, Cat may have other career opportunities, but she also soon becomes a victim of someone who doesn't like the questions she is asking. 

I really enjoyed this series starter, and have already bought the next book in the series. Great writing, humour, real life feelings, and a plot that satisfies. 

Death on the Diversion

Finished October 8

Death on the Diversion by Patricia McLinn

I was introduced to the main character in this series, Sheila Mackey, in the novella Before the Murders. Here Sheila is on a cruise, something that she has done plenty of times before, but this is her first time without her aunt Kit. They've also taken a relative along with them, and this trip Sheila is travelling with a distant cousin, Petronella, who is recently divorced from her abusive husband because he found a new woman. She has obvious confidence problems and is also protective of Sheila. 

Sheila meets a member of a group travelling together as she gets a manicure at the start of her voyage. Odette is friendly and has travelled on with her group before, but there are interesting dynamics between what used to be three couples. Spouses are now in relationships with other of the group's partners, with Odette the odd woman out and seemingly not bothered. Another woman in the group, Leah, is the one who seems often in a bad mood, and is unpleasant to fellow travellers and staff alike. 

There is also another repeat group aboard, a group of women who are loud, with flashy clothing, cosmetic enhancements and and entitled attitudes. 

As Sheila, with long distance advice from her aunt Kit, endeavours to figure out the mystery, she gathers information from crew members, members of both travel groups, her own companion, and her helpful dinner table companions. 

I enjoyed this mystery, and the way that Sheila became more confident of her own observation and problem-solving skills. There is humour here as well. An entertaining read. 

A Man and His Cat

Finished October 6

A Man and His Cat, Volume 1 by Umi Sakurai, translated by Taylor Engel

This manga is a feel good story about an older male teacher who adopts a kitten and develops a close bond with it. We see the man both in his professional life and in the home he now shares with this chubby neurotic animal. We also see the cat's thoughts as he waits for the man to arrive home and as he interacts with him. As a person who has owned several cats over the years, the thoughts of the animal didn't fit with my relationships. My cats have shown more independence and crazy behaviour than this cat. The cat, named Fukumaru, did fill a void in the man's life, improving his mood and attitude. 

The colours used a warm and cosy while not being energetic or unexpected. The cover reflects the colour choices. 

Simple, and without a lot of plot, this was a quick yet relaxing read.