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.

The Umbrella House

Finished October 5

The Umbrella House by Colleen Nelson

This children's book is not only entertaining, it also teaches a bit about American social history, a movement that I was not aware of previously. The Canadian author lived in New York City for a few years, and was interested in the real Umbrella House history and wove it into this story set in the present day. Umbrella House was an abandoned apartment building that the city took possession of, and tried to make unliveable for any squatters. The city filled the drain pipes with concrete, tore holes in the roof and created barricades to access. In 1988 people began living in the house regardless. They began fixing it up to be liveable, and at first used umbrellas to protect against the water coming in through the holes in the roof, giving the building its name. In 2010, they legalized the building as a low income coop. 

In this story, big developers threaten the building once again, and the book shows how housing has an impact on community. Many of the original tenants were artists and this book shows the impact of art as well.

I enjoyed the stories around the two middle grade kids at the center of this novel, both tenants of the building. Roxy lives with her grandmother, one of the original tenants, and her friend Scout lives with his two mothers, more recent tenants. They also run an e-newsletter about the community, with Roxy writing, and Scout doing graphic art. Part of their story is a competition involving a short video, and Scout has also had a teacher recommend a residential summer school to advance his art skills, which he can apply to for free attendance.

I liked the passion of both the kids and adults and the relatable story about affordable housing in urban areas, one I've seen friends and coworkers struggle with. 

A great read. 

A Five-Letter Word for Love

Finished October 5

A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James

I really enjoyed this unexpected romance. Emily has dreamed of a creative career in a bustling city, with a group of close friends that she confides in and spends time with outside of work, but she hasn't fully identified what exactly she wants to do, and so, for the moment, she is house-sitting for friends of her parents. The house is in small town Prince Edward Island, and she's managed to get a job as receptionist at a local garage. She tries to keep in touch with friends from college but feels increasingly that they've moved on.

She decides that it is time to invest in her life, and tries a number of things, from making a date in nearby Charlottetown on an online dating site to volunteering at the only museum in town, one about barrel-making. As she gets to know the staff and volunteers at the museum, she begins making friends, and she finds herself coming up with creative ways to promote the museum.

When her elderly neighbour needs assistance, she finds herself starting a side business of senior care, and when she plays her daily Wordle at work, she learns that one of the mechanics also plays, and may not be as boring as she thought, although John is definitely car-obsessed, and part of the local racing community.

As Emily puts herself into her community, she finds she gets a lot more in return than she expected, but some of her efforts beyond the community also bear fruit for her, and she finds the life she wanted is a real possibility. 

I liked the character Emily, with her energy and ideas, and her uncertainties for the future. I was like that when I was her age too. She is a caring person, curious and open, and I appreciated the changes that she went through as she connected with people. This is a story about a woman figuring out her life, not just her love life, and I really wanted to see what happened with her life.

Listen to Me

Finished October 4

Listen to Me by Tess Gerritsen

This novel is the thirteenth book in the series featuring Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles. Here the duo begin with the case of a much-loved nurse, Sofia Suarez, who is murdered in her own home with indications that it wasn't simply a burglary gone wrong. As they dig deeper, they find recent changes in behaviour, including calls to old colleagues and burner phones, and a connection to a hit-and-run victim from months earlier.

At the same time, Jane's mom Angela is pressing her about a missing teenager from down the street, and strangely secretive new neighbours. When Angela feels that her fears are being ignored, she begins to take matters into her own hands.

I enjoyed the plot line with Angela and her nosiness into her street's goings-on. She is obviously missing her partner, who is out of town dealing with family, and has time on her hands. The more involved case central to Jane's work is interesting as the connections begin to appear. We see some elements before we fully understand them, but I liked trying to make the connections myself.

A compelling read.                                

Breathe

Finished October 1

Breathe by Lucinda Race

This is the first in a series of romance novels set around the Finger Lakes winery industry in New York. Tessa Price has been the marketing manager for her family's winery for several years, hoping for more. But she has realized that her brother is the heir apparent, and begun looking elsewhere. As the novel opens, she tells the family that she's just bought Sand Creek Winery, a relatively new winery in the area that was in danger of going under. Kevin Maxwell was the owner of Sand Creek, and as she did her research before the purchase, Tessa believed that keeping him on board would be helpful to her.

As Tessa and Kevin (Max) began working together, they begin to see how their skills and working styles complement each other, and Tessa wants him to be more involved.

When an accident brings their lives in danger, Max realizes how his feelings for Tessa have grown. This is a story of romance but also a larger story of the winery industry, with a lot of details on how things work, and a story of family for both Tessa and Max.

I found the story a little slow, with sometimes more details than I felt necessary, and put it down a few times before finishing it. I'd be interested to see how further books in the series compare.

October Reviews for the 19th Annual Canadian Reading Challenge

 This is where you add links to the reviews of books you've read that meet the requirements of this challenge. We are three months into the challenge and seeing readers add many interesting titles. 

The King's Evil

Finished September 29

The King's Evil by Andrew Taylor

This is the third book in the series set in the time of Charles II. James Marwood is a clerk to Joseph Williamson, who is in charge of the Royal Gazette and Undersecretary of State to Lord Arlington, but also clerk to the Board of the Red Cloth, which takes precedence and to which duties he is called by Lord William Chaffinch, Keeper of the King's Private Closet. 

Catherine (Cat) Lovett is the daughter of one of Cromwell's followers, and is in hiding, posing as Jane Hakesby, a draughtsman and maid to Simon Hakesby, surveyor and architect. His firm has several projects underway, including work at the Earl of Clarendon's large home. 

James is informed by Lady Quincy, a woman he has previously been in contact with, that Jane's cousin, Edward claims he has discovered her identity, and asked to warn her. 

James and Cat have been involved in incidents before and have a sometimes helpful, sometimes antagonistic relationship. Cat is smart, capable, and not one to give in to fear lightly. She refuses to leave Simon as their is much work to do. 

When James is called to Chaffinch and asked to undertake an confidential investigation on the king's warrant into a death at Clarendon's estate, he finds himself involved in both Cat's life and a larger conspiracy. Not sure who to trust, he uses the increasing reputation he has along with the help and contacts of his two servants to follow the clues he discovers. 

The title of this novel refers to scrofula, a disease that showed in swellings on the skin, particularly on the neck. It was often called the King's Evil as a ceremony involving recitations and touching by the king was said to cure it. This plays a role in the plot of the novel. 

Here we see James' discretion and abilities begin to be known by the higher levels of the court, something that makes it harder for him to operate without being noticed. 

I enjoy this series of novels, for both the historical elements and the intrigue in the plot. I also like some of the architectural details that are brought up through Cat's role. 

The Housewife Assassin's Handbook

Finished September 23

The Housewife Assassin's Handbook by Josie Brown

First, you need to know that this book, and the series that it begins is farce, with great humorous moments. Donna Stone is a suburban housewife. The day her third child is born is also the day that she learns that her husband was undercover FBI and was killed by a car bomb. His boss is the one that informs her and asks her not to let anyone else know he is dead. So she spins stories about him being away on business trips. Donna is involved in all the usual suburban mother activities, PTA and driving kids to their various activities. As she begins to think about how she will manage without her husband's income, his boss suggests that she might be cut out to be an agent herself. 

After training, she takes on the role of a not very bright, but sexy woman in many of her agent roles. But things change when another agent, Jack, who has a reputation for being a player, shows up at her house impersonating her husband Carl. As her fellow housewives swoon over 'Carl', she tries not to resent him for gaining the trust and adoration of her children, and for making moves on her. 

But as the pair becomes involved in dealing a fatal blow to the criminal organization that supposedly killed her husband, things become trickier and it is harder to separate fact from fiction. 

Each chapter begins with a housewife tip that has an edge at the end. The scenes have lots of action and suspense, and the body count damage is mostly offscreen. 

I enjoyed this for the farcical aspects, and it reminded me of some of the action shows of my youth (such as Remington Steele). A fun read. 

Mockingbird

Finished September 25

Mockingbird by Chuck Wendig

This is the second book in a series set around Miriam Black, a young woman with a strange ability, an independent spirit, and an empathetic streak. The first time she touches someone, she will see the moment of their death, including the day and time as well as details such as disease, accidents, and violent deaths. Recently she's been trying to pass as normal, living with a man she saved from his fate and working as a cashier at a grocery store. She wears gloves to prevent touching the customers and overwhelming herself. But it goes against her nature and one day her mask slips and she ends up touching someone at the store. She foresees that the woman will be violently killed by a man with a gun, in only a few moments. As much as she doesn't like the woman, this is not something she wants to happen, and she steps in to change fate again. 

When she has these visions of deaths, she often sees birds, usually a crow that seems to talk to her in her head, and we see birds appear in other scenes as well. I found this an interesting and key part to the novel, something to think about in a new way. There are also  chapters in the book called 'Interludes' where we see visions of people from Miriam's past, now dead, interacting with her. 

Afterward, she returns to the trailer she lives in with Louis, a long-distance trucker. She decides that she needs to move on, and begins a trek from Long Beach, New Jersey toward the rest of the continent. But she ends up sidetracked towards a girls boarding school, one for misfits and delinquents but offering academic excellence. There, she's agreed to a job, using her ability for a woman who fears her own death is near.

As Miriam finds more than she bargained for at the school, she knows she must step in to change fate again, rather than have young girls undergo horrible things. As Miriam relies on her instincts, Louis, and the birds that fly along with her, she takes the birds' warnings and tries to understand how to do what she feels she must. 

I really liked Miriam, her antisocial attitude, casual coarse language, and her perseverance. She's a woman who doesn't necessarily like what she feels she has to do, but does it anyway. She can't see her own death, but somehow doesn't fear it either. 

I've had this book on my shelf for a while and regret not picking it up sooner. I'll look for more in the series soon.