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September Vintage Scavenger Hunt Reviews

 

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Death of a Harvard Freshman

 Death of a Harvard Freshman (1984) by Victoria Silver

Lauren Adler has spent most of her time in her freshman Russian Revolution seminar at Harvard looking at Russell Bernard. Russell is a very handsome, very brilliant young black man who has just about everyone interested in him. Lauren wonders if she'd ever have a chance with him...and then, after a seminar session in which classmate Melissa Wu describes the rather brutal death of Rasputin, she finds herself scheduled for a coffee date with the dreamy man. She can hardly believe her luck.

But...she waits at the coffee shop for an hour past the appointed time and still no Russell. She can't believe she's been stood up and she goes back to the dorm hoping for a phone call with an explanation. What she gets is her roommate Carol, a staffer on Harvard's Crimson newspaper, coming home late to tell her that Russell has been murdered. And the method of his murder seems to mirror that of Rasputin in some ways. When Lauren talks with the police and tells them about the seminar session and how, like Rasputin, multiple methods of murder were used on Russell (a bash on the head, gunshots, and the body thrown in the river), the police seem totally uninterested. They're sure that it was some thug along the river...the river's not a safe place be at night, you know.

Lauren is convinced that she's right--someone from the seminar has killed Russell. But who--and why? Was it Scott Duchaine or Brian O'Donnell...two Southerners who may have a racist streak in them? Or maybe it's Katherine Butler, a militant revolutionary who didn't think Russell was black enough. She believes in violent revolution for racial equality and thought Russell and others like him were too soft in their black protests. Others from the seminar may also have had a reason to kill Russell--like Sandy Grayson whose jealousy may have driven her to murder. Or Tracy Nicholson who carries a gun and may not have accepted that her affair with Russell was over even though she has taken up with Bert Rosen. And maybe Bert Rosen, the blond surfer boy from California, doesn't like playing second fiddle to the brilliant black man. Or Melissa Wu who may have taken the story of Rasputin too literally. Or Andrew Stein who is very unbalanced and seems very fixated on murder of any sort. Parker Kendall runs at night...very often down by the river. He could be the murderer for reasons unknown.

Lauren and her best friend, Michael Hunt, decide to team up as amateur sleuths to see if they can solve the mystery that seems to be too much for the local police. But they need to be careful. Someone has killed once...and will soon kill again. They don't want to find themselves next on the killer's to-do list.

A fairly straight-forward amateur sleuth mystery. It has a nice, classic mystery tone--with a closed circle of suspects and plenty of red herrings to follow up. And I didn't catch on to whodunnit until a certain sentence is spoken in the final chapters. I'm just pleased I realized its importance before Lauren did. The big drawback is that Lauren and Michael spend way too many late-night sessions rehashing everybody's motives and coming to the conclusion that pretty much any of them could have done it. Since these two aren't professional detectives, they can't really do much except talk and talk and talk to the suspects. I'm surprised that those who didn't do it don't get a little fed up with all the questions and accusations....

I do really like Lauren and Michael though. They have a good solid friendship and it's nice to see how their circle builds over the course of the story. And Silver provides us with a nice tense denouement.
★★★ and 1/2  

First line: Melissa Wu was just finishing her presentation on Rasputin.

Last line: "I feel an inexplicable but all too familiar craving for vanilla ice cream and hot fudge."
**********************

Deaths = 3 (one poisoned; two shot)

A Matter of Accent

 A Matter of Accent (1943) by David Keith (Francis Steegmuller)

Ted Weaver is an art gallery owner who is semi-confined to a wheelchair after a car accident which claimed the lives of his wife and daughter. It was not so much the accident itself, but the trauma which exacerbated his polio symptoms. He can get around with leg braces and crutches when necessary, but only with great effort. At the beginning of the story, Ted is approached by his old friend Gail Morris--now Mrs. Dumont) who has been a fashion editor at the French magazine Mode and now heads up a French section of a new governmental radio broadcast unit. She knows that Ted has exemplary skills in French and has come to ask him to take over as their broadcaster. Ted, who realizes with his physical limitations that he will not be allowed to fight if the U.S. should join the war, is eager to help. 

But he has barely begun to research the next broadcast material when he begins receiving threatening letters--letters that tell him to abandon the job before it really beings. Who knows about the job and why has he been threatened when the previous broadcaster was not? And...when Ted ignores the warnings and begins broadcasting anyway...who tries to kill him (twice)? After a second attempt (through poison), Ted is urged to give up the position (and, in fact, Gail essentially fires him). But it is only then that Mademoiselle Maupoussin (the previous broadcaster) is shot and killed? Why now?

In addition to Ted, Gail, and Mlle. Maupoussin, we have other supporting characters: Roland Dumont, Gail’s husband, a likeable, native-born Frenchman who had also had a gallery (in France). He is befriended by Ted and permitted to sell some of his stock from 2 Ted’s gallery. Mrs. Belwood, Ted Weaver’s unctuous and modestly skilled secretary, infatuated with all things French, particularly French nobility. The Marquise de Verdurin, seemingly a “noble dame,” living near Park Avenue and who runs a salon in the style of Paris.  Pierre, originally from Paris, now in New York; Ted’s cook, valet, chauffeur, friend, all around personal aid, and--when necessary--body guard. Other characters include Inspector Johnson who serves the broadcasting unit and who seems to have broad powers; private detective Hacker, who is hired by Roland Dumont, to find his missing artwork; Professor Haley, a linguist who gives approval to all of the broadcasting unit's radio announcers, "Goldstein," a German picture peddler, Pierre’s friend André who works in the Marquise's salon, and the waiter Hummel who often brings Ted his lunch at the art gallery.

There is much underhanded dealings (the peddling of stolen artwork, a gambling house, etc), several spies and French collaborators, and--of course--murder! This is also one of the few mysteries set in wartime that actually mentions the outbreak of war in America. A whole section devoted to the announcement of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the immediate aftermath. If I have one complaint about this one, it's how long it takes to pick up steam. Once we get to the murder of Mlle. the book finally gets going, but it's a long time coming. There is such a long build-up. But the grand finale is totally worth it and I absolutely did not see a particular wrinkle coming. So good surprise ending to balance the slow start. ★★★

1st line: I was filled with surprise and pleasure late that afternoon a few weeks before Pearl Harbor when Gail Morris, dressed like the fashion editor she was, suddenly walked into my gallery.

Last line: Maybe I'll be getting a letter from Washington one of these days: who knows?

Deaths = 5 (two car accident; three shot)

Murder, Murder, Little Star

 Murder, Murder, Little Star (1977) by Marian Babson

Twinkle is a child star--ten years old going on a very b---- forty. She wears dark glasses, a sable coat, and an attitude that alienates everyone she comes in contact with. But onscreen, she's a dream and her public adores her. And she sells. And that's all the producer and the director of her newest movie care about. It'll be worth it to put up with the child tyrant if they can make a huge profit on the movie. But--as filming begins, it becomes apparent that someone has tired of putting up with Twinkle. First her morning milk is poisoned with near fatal results for the crewmember who has been secretly drinking the milk for her (Twinkle hates her morning milk). Then the scriptwriter falls to his death while trying to prove that tap-dancing on a very high roof while wearing a safety harness is absolutely safe--so of course Twinkle can do it. Twinkle was sure it was not...and she was right.

Who has it in for Twinkle? Could it be her mother who had to sacrifice her own career for her daughter's stardom? Or perhaps her bother's beau who wants mummy to be free from encumbrances? Maybe it's the produce or director--after all they have heavily ensured their little star and perhaps they'd rather have insurance money than to have to wait for box office proceeds. Or could it be one of her co-stars--she has managed to offend, insult, and generally make herself obnoxious to all of them. Has anything rankled so deeply that it has resulted in attempted murder? 

Frances Armitage has been hired as chaperone for the young star. She sees beyond the makeup and trappings of fame--and sees a young girl afraid of getting too old for child parts and losing her star power. She sees a lonely girl in need of a friend. And she sees a girl who is truly afraid. Frances vows to protect her young charge and tries to discover what is going on behind the scenes. But it all boils down to a killer who can't keep out the spotlight giving a confessional monologue.

A decent mystery spoiled by little actual detection and the confessional wrap-up. The killer doesn't even need any prodding to to start boasting about the plot to severely injure Twinkle or outright murder her--take your pick. I enjoyed Marian Babson books very much when I first read some in the 80s/90s, but I'm not sure she's what I'm looking for in the 2020s. The best part of the book for me wasn't the mystery--it was Frances and her relationship with Twinkle and her relationship with her son and daughter-in-law. I love how she's trying to get her independence while DIL seems intent on running her life. Good on Frances for sticking up for herself. ★★ and 1/2

First line: There was really, Frances Armitage thought complacently, a lot of nonsense talked about the difficulty of re-entering the employment market.

Last line: "I've just been called on a new assignment...."
**********************

Deaths = 3 (two in explosions; one fell from height)

Murder & Sullivan

 Murder & Sullivan (1998) by Sara Hoskinson Frommer

Oliver, Indiana is hit by a tornado which leaves a path of destruction in its wake. Joan Spencer--director of Oliver's Senior Citizen Center, musician, and sometimes amateur sleuth--has to take shelter in a ditch, protecting a young girl who had wandered away from her family. The family belongs to Judge David Putnam. Near-tragedy is followed by tragedy when David is killed while performing in a local production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore.

Putnam plays one of the "ghosts"--the family portraits on the leading characters wall. During the second act, the portraits come to life. Except for Sir Roderick (David's character). David is found stabbed through the heart. Joan was playing in the orchestra and her beau, police lieutenant Fred Lundquist, was in the audience--neither of them saw anything suspicious until David's body fell to the stage. Investigation seems to prove that only those playing the parts of the ghosts could have had the opportunity, but who had motive. David was well-liked--or so it seemed.

Further digging reveals that several of the cast members had been involved in court cases that had come before the judge...not always with the results they would have liked. Dr. Robert Cutts--malpractice suit. Christopher Eads and his wife Liz MacDonald--divorce case. Virgil Shoals--builder, over a house he had built (but settled out of court). They also find out that Chris Eads blamed David more directly for his divorce than for just the ruling. Liz has carried a torch for David for years and seems to have added fuel to the flames recently. Chris thinks they were carrying on an affair, but he still wants Liz back--is that enough to kill over? Fred and Joan keep asking questions and looking for answers. Until somebody thinks Joan is getting a little to close for comfort.

Another solid entry (#3) in the series. Good plot with plenty of red herring suspects--my only quibble is not enough time is spent investigating the possibilities of these suspects. A little more muddying of the waters would have gone a long way. Once we learned the nature of the weapon I quickly spotted the culprit. But I enjoy Joan and Frommer's portrayal of southern Indiana (being a resident of the fictional Oliver's near-neighbor, Bloomington). I look forward to the next installment sitting on my TBR shelves (Witness in Bishop Hill). ★★★

First line: Joan Spencer was on foot when the siren went off.

Last line: "I have every intention of messing with your mom for a long time."
*****************************

Deaths = one stabbed

The Charteris Mystery

 The Charteris Mystery (1925) by A. E. Fielding

Rose Charteris, daughter of Professor Charteris (more on him in a moment), is found dead from a broken neck at the bottom of a sand pit on the estate of Colonel Scarlett. Scarlett has given over one wing of his home to the Charteris family to use whenever they are in England. The professor is off in Italy somewhere in pursuit of backers for his latest project (synthetic emeralds). Rose was engaged to Count di Monti, an Italian with fascist ties. Also on hand is Scarlett's daughter Sibella (who seems jealous of Rose); his housekeeper, Mrs. Lane; Mr. Thornton, a writer and family friend; and Arthur Bond & John Cockburn, who seem to come as a set and are apparently hooked up to the Foreign Office. There's some mystery over a letter Rose received from her father with an enclosure that has disappeared. And, while the local police and doctor seem to think Rose's death an accident, Thornton feels that there's something not quite right about the scene in the sand pit and calls up Scotland Yard off his own bat.

Enter Chief Inspector Pointer. The Yard can't come unless the locals request it (they haven't), but Pointer is currently on leave and can do whatever he likes on his holiday. So, he decides to come down under the name of Brown, posing as a man in the book business so his connection to Thornton won't be questioned. He immediately finds signs that indicate murder. Now all he has to do is figure out who did it and why? Was di Monti jealous of Rose's sittings for a local artist? Was Sibella so jealous of Rose that she'd do away with her? And why was Mrs. Lane behaving so oddly the night of murder--cloaking herself in veils and driving off late into the night? And who was the man who slept in an empty room and left traces in the summer house--and where did he go? Then someone searches Rose's room as well as her father's London apartment. All correspondence from the professor goes missing. Was Rose killed for possession of the professor's enclosure? And what connection is there fascists and the Russians?

Pointer takes off for Italy in a search for the Professor...and hopefully some answers. But the trail leads him into fascist territory and straight to a couple more bodies. And what starts out as a simple whodunit rapidly takes a leap into political intrigue and the spy/thriller adventure story. Our Scotland Yard detective is apparently a James Bond in disguise (who is adept at actually disguise, by the way) with a Q of his own in the background to supply him with all sorts of nifty gadgets to use when in tight spots:

Leisurely he extracted his cigar case. A thick podgy case, looking none too well made. He touched a spot with his thumb and lifted out a shallow tray...Inside was a flat glass bottle, a file not much longer than a nail-file, but of the stoutest steel, a skeleton key, and a few other interesting and equally useful oddments.

Chief Inspector Pointer has everything he needs for a quick jail-break from the evil fascist's dungeon of doom. The only question is...Is the evil fascist responsible for the deaths in the story?

Despite the fact that this plot takes a sharp turn from traditional mystery to spy/thriller with a detective who behaves more like a secret agent or a Sexton Blake hero and I find it rather unbelievable that Pointer has an endless supply of cash to hire as many private detectives as needed to watch all the suspects and to take a tour of Europe and pay off all sorts of people to tell him what he needs to know....despite all that, I found this to be a quite enjoyable read. It's my first mystery by Fielding and I look forward to reading the other title I have waiting on the TBR shelves here on the Block. ★★★ and 1/2

First line: The conversation, judging by what he heard of it as he sauntered to the east lounge, did not threaten any great demands on his brain.

Last lines: "When he discovers the truth, I shouldn't wonder if there was quite a storm scene." And there was.
*********************

Deaths = 5 (one broken neck; one stabbed; one hit by car; one poisoned; one plane crash)

The Agathas

 The Agathas (2022) by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

Synopses (from book flap): Last summer, Alice Ogilvie's basketball-star boyfriend, Steve dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. She's not talking, so where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove. Or it was, at least. Because now, another one of Steve's girlfriends has vanished, Brooke Donovan. Alice's ex-best friend. And it doesn't look like Brooke will be coming back...

Enter Iris Adams, Alice's tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn't have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke's grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter's whereabouts. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn't so sure, and with Iris on her side, she might be able to prove her theory.

In order to get the reward and prove Steve's innocence, they need to figure out who killed Brooke Donovan. And luckily Alice has exactly what they need--the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there's anyone who can teach the girls  how to solve a mystery it's the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into.

So...if you've read one (or more of the blurbs) and believe this to be a really Christie-driven narrative. Yeah, no. There are superficial Agatha Christie connections--like the title. Is there any real reason to give it this title? No. Did anyone at any point in the book every refer to Alice and Iris as "the Agathas"? Again, no--at least not that I noticed. Beyond the fact that Alice throws in a reference to Christie and/or her detective Hercule Poirot (and his little grey cells) periodically, the girls don't really follow any of the fictional detective's particular methods. They talk about the psychology of the crime, but is it figuring out the psychology that leads them to the murderer? No. They talk about "order & method" and go so far as to draw up a list of the suspects and motives and whatnot, but that's about as orderly as they get. The only other connection (and a somewhat tenuous one) is Alice's disappearance. It gives echoes of Christie's own disappearance when she found out her husband was cheating on her.

Full disclosure--I don't read a lot of Young Adult novels. They're just not my thing, but I needed one for a challenge. I chose this one because it was a mystery and it looked like having a nice Christie connection (Golden Age mysteries are more my thing). Now, it's perfectly possible that I might have rated this one higher if my expectations for better Christie connections either hadn't been there in the first place or had been met. But they were there and they weren't met in a satisfying way. The mystery is decent and it was a quick read. I enjoyed watching Alice learn what real friends are like once she gets involved with Iris and Iris's friends (who remind me of the gang from Mystery Inc). We had a multi-layer ending and just when I thought we'd hit the final layer, we went for one more. 

If Young Adult is your genre and/or you go into this with lower Christie connection expectations than me, then you may find yourself giving this one four stars (the most popular rating on Goodreads). As for me... ★★★

First line: ALICE OGILVE IS CRAZY.

Last line: We might as well make some trouble together.
********************

Deaths = 3 (two hit on head; one natural)

Dandy Gilver & an Unsuitable Day for Murder

 Dandy Gilver & an Unsuitable Day for Murder (2010) by Catriona McPherson

Synopsis from Publisher's Weekly: When Mirren Aitken, a department store heiress goes missing, Mirren's mother asks well-to-do sleuth Dandy to track her down. Aitkens' Emporium ("Tailors, Mantle Makers, Silk Merchants, Domestic Bazaar") is in bitter competition with another store in the town of Dunfermline, House of Hepburn ("Hosiers, Glovers, Clothiers, and Milliners"). The Aitkens fear that Mirren has eloped with Dugald Hepburn, a scion of the rival family. Before long, Dandy must tackle a related homicide, only to become a suspect herself.

Actually...Mirren is found during the Emporium's fifty anniversary party. And she hasn't eloped. In fact, she's not going anywhere except to a resting place six feet deep. And her intended, Dugald, isn't far behind. And, while Dandy does spend an uncomfortable few hours in the police station answering questions, I can't say she's every seriously suspected. But Dandy does tackle the investigation and, finally--after quite a tangled trail--discovers the truth of the matter.

Count me baffled. I'm baffled about the ending. It has got to be one of the most complicated solutions to a mystery out of all the mysteries I've read. I read the ending a second time because I couldn't wrap my head around it the first time. I'm still not sure I understand all of the family connections going on here. I'm also baffled as to why on earth this won an Agatha award for Best Historical Mystery. I'm baffled about why Dandy is described in a blurb as "an enthralling heroine; part Dorothy Parker (in her dreams), part Miss Marple (Christie's elderly sleuth is about 100 times sharper)" and why we would mention any of this in the same breath as Agatha Christie.

I thought the debut novel (After the Armistice Ball) was a decent first book in the series. And, despite a few misgivings, I thought the third novel (Dandy Gilver & the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains) was a fun book and did the historical side of things well with bonus interesting premise. Unfortunately this one has none of those good points. In fact, the longer I think about it, the more I wonder if the ★★ that I'm assigning isn't a bit generous....

First line: Whatever I was expecting when I decided to take a turn around Dunfermline--I was early for my appointment and it was a particularly pleasant day--it was not this air of jubilance.

Last line: I was very glad indeed that out of everyone around, I was me.
*************************

Deaths = 2 (one shot; one fell from height)

Strong Poison

Strong Poison (1930) by Dorothy L. Sayers (read by Ian Carmichael)

As I mention in my previous reviews of the audio version of the first of Sayers's books to feature Harriet Vane, this is a perennial favorite. I love listening to Ian Carmichael read the story. I love going back to the beginning of his romance with Harriet and the beginnings of the changes and growth in his character. If you would like to see what I have thought about the book previously, please see my other reviews (linked on the Revies by Author tab above).

What I like so much about Sayers is that I can reread (relisten to) the stories repeatedly and never get tired of them. I enjoy Sayers' writing and the characters--the way Lord Peter piffles and uses quotation. This time I particularly enjoyed Bunter playing the Don Juan with the cook and the parlor maid and finding out important bits of information to help the investigation along as well as Miss Climpson's "storming the citadel" to get evidence of a certain person's motive.

One thing I did notice this time that managed to escape me on the countless previous readings was a tiny little discrepancy. Miss Climpson (who is one of my favorite characters, by the way) is having a little crisis of moral regret for how she has used spiritualism to get a look at a certain elderly lady's will. She ponders whether the Almighty will forgive her actions--especially as she's doing it to help somebody "I've never even seen" Well...she's doing the job for Lord Peter (whom she most definitely seen) and in turn this bit of deception is to help prove Harriet Vane innocent. And, again, having served on the jury in Harriet's first trial...and having been the main reason it was a hung jury and a new trial had to be called, Miss Climpson most certainly has seen Harriet as well. There isn't anybody else this could be in reference to. 

 Full marks for a grand performance of a much loved detective novel. ★★★★★

First line: There were crimson roses on the bench; they looked like splashes of blood.

Last line: "If she'll have me," said Lord Peter Wimsey.

*****************

Deaths = one poisoned

A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts & Vice

 A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts & Vice (2025) by Manda Collins

Synopsis (from the back of the book): A wallflower by choice, wealthy Lucy Penhallow would rather sit out the dancing all season than listen to the flattery from the fortune hunters who pursue her. But when she and her best friend's brother witness a crime in progress, they'll need to put every skill Lucy's learned from reading detective stories to the test in their hunt for a missing woman. And if Viscount Gilford happens to be handsome as sin and clever to boot? Well, that's no hardship for her.

Viscount Gilford needs a wife to save him from financial ruin [after an unscrupulous steward embezzles funds from the estate], and there's only one heiress who's off limits [as his sister's best friend]. So when he and Lucy find themselves inextricably linked in the tabloids, it's a disaster. As their investigation progresses, their once unwelcome alliance becomes something more--a love match neither will give up. But there's a killer watching their romance from the wings who's only too happy to keep those meddlesome sleuths together in the afterlife.

This one is in a tie with How to Dance with a Duke for least favorite Manda Collins book so far. The romance progressed even more quickly than those in the other Collins romance/mysteries I've read. And the mystery was far less compelling and more confusing. I'm not sure if Collins is changing her style a bit for this new Wallflower offshoot from the Ladies Most Scandalous series or if this is just a less successful entry in her general romance/mystery repertoire. Either way, it didn't hold my attention in the same way and I wasn't terribly interested in the Lucy/Gilford relationship. We went from "I can't be interested in my sister's totally forgettable best friend" to "Wow, she's so beautiful I could never forget her" in less time than it takes to be reintroduced. All that was needed to push Gilford right off the romance cliff was for his friend Woodward to show an interest in her. Then he starts looking daggers at every man who even dares to look at her.

Spoiler Alert.... 

As far as the mystery goes....I don't understand why all the killing was necessary. After the fake kidnapping, why didn't the two violent lovebirds just hop on a boat for America and go get married? Did we really have to kill so many people? And I wish it had been more clear that Mr. Blackwood was really okay at the end. There's one sentence that makes it seem so...and I hope so. Hopefully, the next installment will get back on track. My favorite Collins book so far is A Spinster's Guide to Danger & Dukes. I hope to see another just as good in the future. ★★ and 1/2

First line: He was too pretty to die.

Last line: "My dear lady," he said as he rose with her in his arms and headed for their bedchamber, "is that not why you married me?"
*******************

Deaths = 5 (three stabbed; one natural; one hit by train)

Girl Waits with Gun

 Girl Waits with Gun (2015) by Amy Stewart

Based on the forgotten true story of one of the nation's first female crime fighters. Synopsis from the book flap: Constance Kopp doesn't quite fit the mold. She towers over most men, has no interest in marriage or domestic affairs, and has been isolated from the world since a family secret sent her and her sisters from city to country fifteen years ago. When a powerful, ruthless factory owner runs down their buggy, a dispute over damages turns into a war of bricks, bullets, and threats as he unleashes his gang on their farm. The sheriff enlists her help, and it turns out Constance has a knack for outwitting (and disarming) the criminal element which might just take her back out into the world and onto a new path in life. Quick-witted and full of madcap escapades, Girl Waits with Gun is a story about one woman rallying the courage to stand up for and grow into herself--with a little help from sisters and sheriffs along the way....Constance Kopp catapults from forgotten historical anecdote to unforgettable historical fiction heroine--an outsized woman not only ahead of her time, but sometimes even ahead of ours.

My take: Historically important. It was interesting to learn about this woman who became the first ever female sheriff's deputy. But I have to say as a story, it just didn't grab me and I didn't find Constance (or her sisters) interesting characters at all as presented. And I didn't really see the "madcap escapades" anywhere. It was one long parade of harassment by Henry Kaufmann's gang of ruffians. It took quite a long time to get to where he actually is charged with harassment and assault and it sticks. The most interesting part, for me was when Constance shows herself to be a detective-in-the-making and manages to find a lost little boy. The boy was taken from his mother (a woman seduced by Kaufmann, by the way) and sent to an orphanage. It's Constance who puts two and two together and figures out where the boy was taken. Hands down--best part of the book and it didn't even make the book blurb. It's possible, if they feature Constance actually investigating mysteries, that future books may be better...but I'm not sure I'm going to spend time finding out.  ★★ and 1/2

Others on Goodreads seemed to enjoy this more, so your mileage may vary.

First line: Our troubles began in the summer of 1914, the year I turned thirty-five.

Last line: "I'm offering you a job, Miss Kopp."
*********************

Deaths = 2 natural

Muscle & Bone

 Muscle & Bone (1995) by Paul-Victor Winters

A beautiful but short collection of poetry by a beautiful soul--taken from us much too soon in 2020. I was privileged to know Paul-Victor in his final year of MFA work at Indiana University. His work is touching and haunting with imagery (such as the flowers and plants) that finds its way through nearly all the poems in this book. The poems cover love and loss and grief and back again...all in the space of 32 pages.★★★★

First line (first poem): Give the old man eyes, the woman says

Last line (last poem):  above us.