The Tears of the Singers

 The Tears of the Singers (1984) by Melinda Snodgrass

The Enterprise is at a space station for a little R&R and a mandatory check of the ship. Uhura meets one of the most talented musicians since Mozart and there is romance in the air. But when a space freighter disappears in a space warp near the Taygeta V system, shore leave is cancelled and the Enterprise is sent to investigate. Taygeta is the home of a species of "singers" that has long been hunted for the crystal tears excreted upon their death. Spock proposes that a species that can create music must be intelligent and that the hunting is wrong...and Kirk doesn't disagree, but there are bigger issues to be faced. First, they need to find a way to stop the space warp from expanding further (and engulfing the planet)...then they can save the Taygetians from the hunters. 

Before leaving the space station, Spock's research into the Taygetians' music reveals that the songs themselves may be essential to solving the space warp crisis and he tells Kirk that the Enterprise needs a musician to interpret the music. So, Guy Maslin, our latter-day Mozart, is called upon for service (under a little-used Federation regulation) and off they go to Taygeta. Of course, saving the universe wouldn't be everything it could be without the Klingons getting involved too. Kirk's old rival Kor shows up and then they manage a truce (without the need for Organian influence), but there are hard-core Klingons on Kor's ship who might not let their captain be so cozy with earthers. While Kirk and Kor try to keep things calm in space, Uhura, Guy, and Spock work to unravel the song and make meaningful contact with the Taygetians before it's too late.

This is one of the few Star Trek novels to feature Lieutenant Uhura and give her the attention she deserves. She not only helps to save an entire species and their planet, but also helps them save the space-time continuum. The plot makes use of her musical talents as well as her abilities as a language specialist. I enjoyed this one very much the first time I read it (when it was first released and looking back now, it's interesting to know that this book came out in 1984 and featured a rescue through a species' song and it wouldn't be long before Star Trek IV would be released and whale song would feature so prominently. ★★★ and 3/4 

First line (Prologue): An ice green sea lapped softly at the sparkling sands and crystal cliffs of the strange, silver-lit world.

Last line: He would probably never hear their music again, but someday, with the help of the three Taygetians who traveled with them, a multitude of worlds would ring with their particular brand of music that sang to the spheres.

The Clue in the Crumbling Wall

 The Clue in the Crumbling Wall (1945) by Carolyn Keene

When four rose bushes disappear from Nancy Drew's garden, she's plunged into another mystery. The bushes are stolen by Joan Fenimore, a poor little girl with a love of beautiful plants. Joan and her widowed mother are living in reduced circumstances and are convinced that if only the mother's sister, Florianna Johnson--a famous dancer--could be found, then things would change for them.

Florianna was engaged to Walter Heath, heir to a fine estate and the family business. But she disappeared nearly ten years ago. Her health had been bad and she'd been advised to take a break from work and go on a vacation. She never returned. Walter loved her and believed she'd come back, but died five years later. His will revealed that he had left everything to Florianna, provided she was found within five years of his death. There are only three weeks left and if the dancer isn't found the estate will revert to the county to be turned into a park.

Nancy promises the Fenimores that she will do all she can to find the missing dancer. There is also a rumor of clues to be found and the Heath estate so she and Bess and George make it their business to investigate. They discover that someone has been damaging the walls of the gardens and buildings--evidently in search of something. Nancy soon discovers a plot to defraud the missing dancer of her inheritance and she must race against the clock to find Florianna, as well as the valuable secret hidden at Heath Castle.

The Clue in the Crumbling Wall was one of my top ten favorite Nancy Drew stories when I was young. And the mystery still holds up forty-some years later. There are good clues for Nancy to follow and just the right amount of danger and adventure. The girls are attacked at various times, but never seriously hurt and they manage to outsmart the crooks very cleverly. It was nice to see Nancy working with her Dad on this one--he and Nancy follow a lead to Florianna in a nearby town. Usually, Carson Drew is off doing lawyerly things and just gives Nancy little "that-a-girl" pep talks when he appears. I really like the ending--how Florianna uses her new-found wealth and the happy ending for Joan and her mother. ★★★★

First line: Great drops of rain pelted the sidewalk, as Nancy Drew raced madly toward home, her golden hair flying in the stiff breeze.

Last line: "And forever they'll remain a symbol of mystery and romance!"

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

Deaths = two natural

When Blood Lies (Spoilers)

 When Blood Lies (2022) ~C. S. Harris (Candice Proctor)

Warning! If you have not read the previous books in the series, then there will be spoilers to the long, arcing storyline in our protagonist's life.

In March of 1815, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, has traveled to France, along with his wife Hero and family. The Bourbons have been restored to power, the French people are growing restless, and there are rumors of the return of Napoleon. But Devlin ha a single purpose, he has firm hopes of finally meeting up with his long-lost mother and learning the truth of his parentage. It's been a long wait--from the moment he learned that the Countess of Hendon did not perished at sea to learning that the Earl was not his father in anything but name to learning that his mother was in France to waiting for France to be calm enough to make this journey possible. There may still be unrest in the Gallic nation, but he refuses to wait any longer. He learns that she has been traveling in Vienna, but is set to return to Paris.

But more tragedy awaits our hero as his mother is fatally stabbed on the bridge leading to the house he has leased in Paris. He arrives in time to be recognized with a ragged, whispered, "Sebastian," but Sophia Hendon dies without regaining consciousness or naming her murderer...or naming Devlin's real father. In these turbulent times, the French authorities have no interest in finding the killer of an Englishwoman who was the mistress of one of Bonaparte's former generals--even if Maréchal McClellan has now sworn allegiance to the Bourbons. And the Bourbons, as represented by Marie-Therese, Duchesse d’Angoulême, warns Devlin off his quest for justice, as does his antagonistic father-in-law, Lord Jarvis. But official warnings have never stopped him before.

The investigation reveals disturbing information about his mother. It seems that before she returned to France she made a detour to Elba. And evidence indicates that at the time of her death she had been in possession of a talisman sacred to those who would rule France. It has since disappeared. Did she deliver it to Napoleon on Elba and is that why he's emboldened to return to Paris? Or was she taking it to someone else before meeting with her son? Does this mean that her death is political? Other deaths follow and the clues begin to point in various directions--including a very personal one. Threats are made against his family and he races to find answers before he loses anyone else dear to him.

I spent 2020-21 rereading the earliest entries in this series and then getting completely caught up with Devlin and his lady. I finished the previous book in July of last year and have been waiting very impatiently--first for this one to be published and second for my turn on the library holds waitlist. I got my hands on it on Friday evening and finished it by Saturday afternoon. I absolutely love this series. It is one of my all-time favorite historical mystery series. It is also one of the deadliest I read (regularly racking up deaths in the double-digits), but the pacing is perfect, the characters so appealing, the historical details so absorbing (without being overwhelming), and mysteries so interesting that the death count wouldn't seem so high if I weren't tracking for the Medical Examiner's Reading Challenge. I have enjoyed watching Devlin's journey, even as I am saddened by each new tragedy Harris sends his way. The next book isn't due out till next April...it's going to be a very long year. ★★★★★

First line: One more day, he thought, one more day, perhaps two, and then....

Last line: Long live the Emperor.

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

Deaths = 13 (one drowned; one natural; five stabbed; one broken neck; two hit on head; two shot; one strangled)

Murder Down Under (spoilerish

 Murder Down Under (aka Mr. Jelly's Business; 1937) Arthur W. Upfield

Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte is on holiday in western Australia when he decides to lend a helping hand to a former protégé--on not one mystery, but two. Detective John Muir had made a mess of his last case--suspecting the wrong man and letting the right one get away. And now he's got a mysterious disappearance on his hands. George Loftus, a local wheat farmer, had wrecked his car one rainy night and promptly disappeared into the ether. Many of the townspeople think Loftus has done a bunk--escaping creditors or his wife...or both. About two weeks have passed and he's found no evidence whatsoever in the case. 

He's very surprised and happy to see Bony appear in Perth--even if his mentor does give him a bit of a hard time over his last case.

After all my tuition you took a creek without first ascertaining the depth of the water. You accepted a conclusion not based on logical deduction. You ignored science, our greatest ally after Father Time.

But he immediately offers Muir a way to redeem himself. He tells him exactly where to find the real culprit and how best to effect the capture. Meanwhile, Bony is also going to interest himself in the new disappearance. He soon learns that while Leonard Wallace, owner of the Burracoppin Hotel, was the last to see Loftus alive and even admits to having argued with the man, the hotel owner is more likely to murder his wife than a customer. Wallace says that Loftus had given him a ride after sharing drinks in the bar. The missing man was in a foul mood and after the argument had forced Wallace out of the car. That was last he'd seen of him. An investigation of the crash site (even several weeks later) shows Bony that Loftus left the car alive and traveled a bit along the rabbit fence. But what happened to him then? Where did he go and who did he meet? A cigar stub, the remains of Loftus's red notebook, a few ill-advisedly spent bank notes, a dog's successful rabbit hunt, a well-stacked haystack, and buzzing blowflies are the solid clues that will show Bony (and the reader) who done it and where Loftus is now. But the reader should know who did it long before the clues are found...

This is one of the slowest-paced police procedurals I've read in a long time. I know that one of the tenets of Bony's philosophy of detection is patience, but mine was wearing thin by the time we got round to the grand finale. Once we know it's murder (and, of course it was, otherwise why write a whole detective novel about a man running out on his wife and his debts?), it isn't that difficult to figure out who did it and why. Suspects are not exactly thick on the ground. Unsuspecting readers might be tricked into thinking the one other character who's acting a bit oddly is the murderer (for about two seconds), but, honestly, there's not even a whiff of motive. And that character has been acting oddly in just this way for years. 

In fact, the mystery surrounding the oddly-behaving gentleman is a lot more interesting than the disappearance of George Loftus. And Upfield leaves some pretty subtle clues to just what exactly Mr. Jelly is up to. Not that I caught on to them, but they are there. I was much more interested in Bony's efforts to clear up that mystery and relieve the minds of Mr. Jelly's daughters. All the points for this book go to the mystery of Mr. Jelly's Business (the original title is definitely better) and to my appreciation of the character of Bony. ★★ and 1/2

First line: If it had not rained!

Last line: "I tell you I won't go, Mr. Jelly!"

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

Deaths = 3 (two shot; one poisoned)

The Corbin Necklace

 The Corbin Necklace (1926) by Henry Kitchell Webster

Necklace...necklace...who's got the necklace?

When Mr. Corbin passed peacefully away, he left his widow in complete control of his wealth, including a beautiful pearl necklace worth 100,000 dollars. She loved to play the autocrat and she disliked her daughter-in-law, Violet. It was always understood that her son's wife would have the pearls one day, but when Violet's husband joined his father in the great beyond old Mrs. Corbin kept putting off the passing of the pearly torch (as it were).

So, when Violet's daughter Judy is ready to get married, the announcement appears in the paper along with the news that Mrs. Corbin plans to present it to her granddaughter as a wedding present. The matriarch denies having told the papers so...but neither denies nor confirms the papers assertion. As the day of the wedding approaches, Judy's younger brother Punch is just as sure as shootin' that someone is going to steal the necklace. After all, Gran's safe is about a hundred years old and any thief worth his salt should be able to have it open in a matter of minutes. Well...Punch must have second sight because the necklace is stolen--not once, but twice. And nobody seems to want to hold onto it for long. Judy is nervous as well, but not about the necklace. She keeps looking like she's seen a ghost and goes about hiding little notes she receives from her intended's cousin. Punch thinks it's about the necklace...but our narrator is none too sure.

Mr. Ethelbert Smith, long-time family friend to the Corbins and an expert jeweler, arrives for the wedding and is just in time to help solve the mystery of who stole the necklace the first time. And who brought it back? And who stole it the second time? And where is it now? Our narrator, another--unnamed--family friend who is sidelined with a broken leg, is given all the juicy details by Punch and Judy and Mr. Smith and passes them along to the reader so we can follow the action from all sides. A nice little robbery with little in the way of clues (there's no way you'll be able to name the culprit), but it makes for a fun bit of family mystery and drama...and gives us a view of life in the Midwest in the 1920s. ★★★ and 1/2

First line: "How much do you suppose it's really worth?" Punch wanted to know.

Last line: "No," said Punch contentedly, "I guess she won't."

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

Deaths = two natural

The Counterfeit Lady

 The Counterfeit Lady (2014) by Kate Parker

Georgia Fenchurch and the Archivist Society are back on the job. This time someone has stolen top-secret plans for a brand new British warship. The wife of the designer has been killed, the plans are missing, and Kenneth Gattenger, the designer, has been arrested for murder...and treason. The police believe Clara Gattenger discovered that her husband had sold out Britain to Germany and got killed for her knowledge. But Clara was Lady Phyllidia Monthalf's cousin and she doesn't believe a word of it. She wants the society to find the real killer. The Duke of Blackford also wants Georgia...and the society...to investigate on behalf of Queen and country. 

Georgia plays the part of Lady Monthalf's widowed cousin, just arrived home from India, and the duke's latest paramour in order to have an entrance to society. For most of the possible suspects travel in much different circles from a middle-class bookshop owner. Between Georgia's sleuthing and a society member who goes undercover in the Admiralty to look for spies, they soon have more suspects than they know what to do with. Kenneth's eye for drawing aids them in producing a good likeness of the thief...now they just have to figure out to whom he will deliver the plans. And they need to do it before a mysterious stranger blows Georgia's cover.

The mystery itself is a good one. I enjoyed following up all the of the suspects and trying to figure out who was hiding what. They all have secrets, but only one of them is a secret spy. So, the intricate nature of the plot earns high points. The main difficulty is the repetitive nature of Georgia's involvement. I know London's a big a place, but surely to goodness it's difficult enough for a middle-class bookshop owner to pretend to be a member of society once without being found out. And she does it again in this book? And somebody does discover her secret (two somebodies, actually) and doesn't let the cat out of the bag? It's a bit much to swallow. She also found the hidden plans a little too easily--especially considering she was in an unfamiliar house. Oh...and for an experienced member of the society, I did think it odd that she blurted out information to Sir Jonah Denby...even after Blackford said he didn't know him.

I enjoy Georgia and all of the other recurring characters. Her relationship with Phyllidia and Emma is particularly good. When she has her mind on the job (and not wool-gathering over Blackford), she makes a pretty good sleuth. I have the next book in the series and am looking forward to it, but I certainly hope Parker takes the investigation in another direction--no more play-acting as a member of London society, please.  ★★★

First line: "I need you."

Last line: I was not about to give up my quest to see [redacted] hang for murder.

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

Deaths = 3 (one hanged; one hit on head; one neck broken)

The Body That Wasn't Uncle

 The Body That Wasn't Uncle (1939) by George Worthing Yates

Miss Katheren Meynard, a successful literary agent, receives a plea for help from the family of her godfather. Rosalie Small, her husband Charles, son Cedric, and father-in-law Sidney (the godfather) are in desperate straits and need a loan to meet bills. Katheren is always ready to help out Rosalie and heads to New Jersey to contribute to the cause. But it's a wasted trip--Sidney is too proud to allow Rosalie to accept the money. 

The next morning Katheren rushes towards the train station to catch the first train to New York City and her job when she stumbles across a dead man in the snow. Being a dutiful citizen, she reports it to the police--little knowing the trouble the tramp (as she thinks of him) will cause. First, he's an unknown who asked the way to the Smalls' house when he arrived at the train station. Then Sidney identifies the man as his long-lost brother Stephen. What is first accepted as death from exposure is discovered to be poison and suddenly Sidney decides to fess up and say that he only claimed it was Stephen so they could collect the $50,000 in insurance--and get themselves out of debt. And he'd rather be arrested for attempted fraud than murder. But the police aren't buying it. They insist the man really is Uncle Stephen.

A monogrammed lucky horseshoe seemed to guarantee that it the police are right. Yet the man's dentist comes forward and says it isn't Stephen Small. That appeared to settle it...until Small's common law wife and partner come forward and positively identify the body as the big-time gambler. It's to their advantage that Small be declared dead--just as much as that insurance policy could help out Rosalie and company.

Katheren was pretty sure (from the start) that the dead man wasn't Stephen and that Sidney, the crafty old devil, was really only trying to pull an insurance fast one. She's also sure that Sidney didn't kill the man. But if he didn't, who did? She asks Hazlitt Woar, a British detective of her acquaintance, to look into matters and he winds up sending a telegram to a dead man 

Urgent proof needed of your existence.

But when he doesn't get a reply, he tries something even trickier...he sets out to discover who out of 150,000,000 Americans sat beside the soon-to-be corpse in the train's restaurant car and offered him a drink laced with atropine?

This starts out very strong. Yates opens with a light and humorous touch and I was all set to settle down for a fun, comfortable ride with plenty of witticisms. Katheren won me over immediately and I had high hopes for her interactions with Hazlitt. But then it kind of died--just like the body in the first chapter, it just sat down in a snow drift and expired. The middle drags and the back and forth business over whether the body was uncle or not just got old. Even adding a few more deaths didn't spice things up much. The ending was exciting enough, but it lost some of its impact after the long, dragged out bits. And I didn't much care for the district attorney's vindictive attitude towards Katheren and Hazlitt. Bit of a spoiler here: It seemed contrived just to bring Katheren and Hazlitt to the alter (you'll understand if you read it) and give them a happy ending. ★★ and 1/2 (I had anticipated a much better rating)

First line: The first manifestation occurred on the seventeenth of December.

Last line: It was the spring of the year, an unsettling time for everybody. [Which I feel could also make an excellent opening line.]

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

Deaths = 4 [one poisoned; two shot; one natural]

Busman's Honeymoon

 Busman's Honeymoon (1937) by Dorothy L. Sayers; read by Ian Carmichael

I could have sworn I had reviewed the audio version of Busman's...but apparently not. No review here on the block and no indication of it on Goodreads. Here's my review from the last time I read the hard copy (just a warning....possible spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the Sayers books that precede this one):

So...Lord Peter finally gets the girl. Well, we knew that at the end of Gaudy Night...what with them kissing madly in the middle of Oxford and all. But this one seals the deal. The book begins with the details of the months leading up to the wedding, the wedding itself, and on to the honeymoon. Not that Sayers is so gauche as to reveal ALL about the wedding night, but it's abundantly obvious that our favorite lord and his new lady have quite a nice time of it.

The mystery fun begins the next day when the body of their neglectful host is found in the basement. It soon becomes clear that the reason the honeymoon house was not prepared was because Mr. Noakes has been dead for almost a week. Harriet rather wishes that Peter need not be bothered with all this murder business while on his honeymoon--if only because it will bring the mobs of reporters descending upon them--but soon realizes that his "job" is something they will need to come to terms with if theirs is to be happy marriage.

What follows is, as Sayers notes in the subtitle, A Love Story with Detective Interruptions. We follow Peter and Harriet as they sort out how their love story will begin and in the intervals they pick up clue after clue that will ultimately lead to the discovery of the culprit. However, the point of the story is not the murder. The point is love and marriage and what Sayers thought was the ideal way for two adults to sort things out.

The mystery isn't a very deep one and it shouldn't be hard for anyone to spot the criminal. But the detective story is not the reason I can read this novel (or any of Sayers' mysteries, for that matter) over and over again. I read them for the language and the characters and their interactions. Rereading Busman's Honeymoon, I was struck once more about how delightful the opening chapter is. It is told entirely in letters and excerpts from the Dowager Duchess's diary and I chuckle over it every single time. The voices of the various characters--from Peter's insufferable sister-in-law to the irrepressible Countess of Severn and Thames--are so distinct and vibrant. And the images they convey are such a hoot--can anyone who has read the stories not snort over the picture of the "hell-hound" reporters trying bribe Bunter? Or Peter and Harriet composing rude rhymes in order to get rid of Helen (the insufferable sister-in-law)?

I love this book. And can only regret that it is the last full-length novel written entirely by Dorothy L Sayers. The books penned by Jill Paton Walsh just aren't the same.

Listening to the audio version with Ian Carmichael, I'm still delighted by the opening. What a wonderful way to let us know what happened to Peter and Harriet between the moment Harriet says "Placet" to the moment they head off to their honeymoon. But I also thoroughly enjoyed the scenes with Tom Puffett cleaning out the chimney--absolutely hilarious. And Peter's reaction to the audible evidence of chimney-sweeping going on is gold.

One is afraid to believe in good fortune. The sweep! I crushed down my rising hopes. I said, No--it is a thunderstorm, a small earthquake, or at most a destitute cow dying by inches in the chimney. I dared not court disappointment. It is so long since I was taken into anybody's confidence about a sweep. As a rule, Bunter smuggles him in when I am out of the house, for fear my lordship should be inconvenienced.

I love the image this conjures and the whole exchange between Bunter and Puffett leading up to the actual sweeping is not to be missed. In fact, there are so many little moments in this novel that I can't possibly talk about them all without completely spoiling the plot. You just need to go read it (or listen to it) yourself. ★★★★★ always.

First lines: Mirabelle, Countess of Severn and Thames, to Honoria Lucasta, Dowager Duchess of Denver. My Dear Honoria, So Peter is really married: I have ordered willow-wreaths for half my acquaintance.

Last line: So she held him, crouched at her knees, against her breast, huddling his head in her arms that he might not hear eight o-clock strike.

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Deaths = 2 (one hit on head; one hanged)

Be Holding

 Be Holding (2020) by Ross Gay

Ross Gay is a beautiful human being who writes the most beautiful poetry. He uses words to float ideas as effortlessly as Dr. J's move which inspired this book-length poem. Ross holds the readers in the palm of his hand, balancing us carefully between the words and their meaning, the words and their unmeaning, the words and pictures they paint, the pictures that accompany the words and ideas that complement the pictures. He reminds us to be holding each other and in holding to see each other--to see where the other has been and where they are. Who the other is and who they have been...and who they and we can be. Ross makes us delight in language as he weaves language into magic right before our eyes. 

But he also reminds us that in looking we witness the hurts as well as the triumphs...

" we do unwittingly when witnessing the unwitnessable"

and in the holding we should care for the hurting and be holding unholdable. He makes us realize that we are connected--we are all here to bear witness to the unwitnessable and hold what cannot be held. And to support one another in this way is the only be holding that is worthwhile. ★★★★★

First line: You might have noticed there's nowhere to go

Last line: we breathe

Reliquary (spoilers ahead)

 Reliquary (1997) by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Once again there is something nasty lurking in New York City. In Relic, the terror was hiding out in the basement hallways of the Museum of Natural History. And now something has taken over the hidden tunnels deep below the subway and sewage systems of the Big Apple.

When police divers go down in sludgy waters of the Humboldt Kill, dumping ground of sewers and factories and all sorts of icky waster, they're searching for a dumped cache of heroin. What find are two decapitated skeletons. The first is quickly identified as a missing young socialite, but the second poses a puzzle. The skeleton is malformed and has odd additions to the bones...and yet it still seems to be human. The other worrisome problem with the remains is they seem to have been chewed on. And the teeth marks all seem to be human, although the force needed to make some of the bites indicate humans with abnormal strength in their jaws. 

The Lieutenant D'Agosta, heading up the investigation, bring in Doctors Margo Green and Whitney Frock (who helped defeat the terror wreaking havoc in the museum eighteen months ago) to examine the remains and provide what clues they can to the killer (or killers...). And soon Special Agent Pendergast is back in action as well. It isn't long before they realize that something has been preying on the homeless who live in the tunnels beneath the city and only recently has begun working above ground. Their search for answers take them deep underground where they join forces with the leader of the homeless group under Central Park. But there is an intelligence behind the cannibalistic killers and that intelligence has set events in motion that could change human life for good. The team will have to work fast to prevent a catastrophe.

********************Spoilers ahead**************

 I cannot discuss my reaction to the story without spoilers--those who have not read Reliquary or Relic will proceed at risk of having important plot points revealed.

This was still a page-turner. Preston & Child know how to write a story that will keep you reading. However, I found some of the story difficult to buy into (even while suspending my disbelief about magic plants that turn humans into killers while also giving them rejuvenating powers). For instance, how did Gregory Kawakita manage to get his hands on these plants that miraculously survived? The last remaining specimens were supposedly destroyed in Relic. But granted that he did...how did he and the others manage to get these specimens (which came from the rain forest) to reproduce at a rate to fill the New York City reservoir? Again...it's only Eighteen. Months. Later. Part of that time was spent trying to grow the things in aquarium tanks. A great deal of that time was spent experimenting on the plants. When did he have time to play Farmer Joe out at the reservoir? We won't even go into the fact that the New York City reservoir is exposed to a New York winter for part of that time. And the plants weren't acclimated to winter coming from the rain forest and all. So, yeah. That doesn't seem so feasible.

I'm also amazed at the huge number of altered humans that are roaming around following our megalomaniac doctor. Again, it's only eighteen months later. How many people could two people (I'm counting Greg and the doctor--even though we aren't told that the doctor participated in the early experimentation phase, but we'll pretend that there are two the whole time)...how many people could two men give this drug to and convert into killer humans in such a short time? And finally...I'm sorry, but the ending was disappointing. Dr. Frock just comes across as a megalomaniac Bond villain. Not that I'm opposed to James Bond stories. I've read several and enjoyed them to varying degrees. But I know what I'm getting into when I do so. The "oh you pitiful normal humans" and "now I'm going to rule the world once I recreate it the way I want--Bwa-ha-ha" shtick just didn't play well in this particular venue. 

On the plus side, Preston & Child tied this into the previous story well and create a decent mystery that reaches beyond the portions of the story that I had difficulty with. Our main characters are well-drawn and it was fun reading about Green, Pendergast, and D'Agosta again. I enjoyed watching them put the pieces together and the action part of the wrap-was good. A solid story, but not quite up to the level of Relic. ★★★

First line: Snow tested his regulator, checked both air valves, ran his hands along the slick neoprene of the suit.

Last line: Although their conversation remains their own, when they left the restaurant D'Agosta was sporting a large--and apparently relieved--grin.

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

Deaths = 12 (ten beheaded; one throat cut; one electrocuted)

Going Public

 Going Public (1973) David Westheimer

Three bright young men discover, pretty much by accident, that they have a real gift for removing people who are found to be encumbrances in someone's everyday life. They're so good that the deaths are never suspected to be anything more than natural at best or accidental at worst. When all three (individually) are hired by three separate people to remove the same man, they decide to join forces. They call themselves the Three Willies (an inside joke). And eventually, they see the need to incorporate in order to save money on taxes. That's when they learn to call what they do "undertakings" and their subjects "units." They go all in and set up the Three Ws Corporation, complete with publicly traded stock, advertising, and even hostile takeover attempts. Yes, a certain stockholder decides that he wants a controlling interest in the Three Ws and that when the partners determine to make one final killing--in the best sense of the word.

Who knew that murder for hire and the finer details of business and incorporating same could be so funny? And who knew I'd enjoy learning all the ins and outs of how to run a business--including when is a good time to diversify; how to maximize profits; how to sell a service that's difficult to describe (legally, that is); how to go about finding new trainees; etc. I'm not entirely sure that it's fair to call this a mystery--after all, we know exactly who did what to whom and how. But there is a mystery towards the end--how can they get rid of the bothersome individual who wants to take over their company without violating their own personal rule: To never use their skills for personal gain (other than monetarily in the line of business, of course). Their favorite business lawyer has an ingenious solution and, thus, lives up to his status as an honorary Willie.

This is just enormous fun. It skewers the business industry so expertly, that you would think one of the Willies had performed the "undertaking." All the worst qualities of the business world are put to use to further the ends of the undertakings--and it is usually men who display those worst qualities who become "units" in the company's production line. It also shines a light on the religious faction who don't seem to mind being hand-in-glove with dirty business practices as long as they can claim profits "for the glory of the Lord." A terrific commentary on big business with comments that are just as applicable to the business practices of today (unfortunately) and all done with murder mayhem and good humor. ★★★★

First line: The three young me sat patiently in the intimidating opulence of the ante-room of Rhomber, Kissel, and Wurlitz, Attorneys at Law.

Last lines: They all remained fast friends until they died. And when they did, at ripe old ages, all were interred by one or another branch mortuary of Sweet & Low, "Serving the Silent Majority."

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

Deaths = 7 (one fell from height; one shot; one hit by bus; two natural; one blown up; one drowned)

Lock 14

 Lock 14 (1931) by Georges Simenon [translated by Robert Baldick

Inspector Maigret is brought in to investigate a murder at Lock 14 on the Marne Canal. A strangled woman is found in the stable's hay at an inn along the waterway. She's soon identified as Mary (Marie) Dupin Lampson, the wife of an Englishman taking a yacht up the canal. Since none of her jewelry has been taken, it looks like a crime of passion. But Sir Walter Lampson, retired colonel, seems very lacking in passionate feelings about his wife and there are few others to suspect. Lampson and his passengers are questioned, as well as the owners and crew of barges that lay nearby--especially those aboard the Providence. It seems odd that the Providence's carter, who normally slept in stables along the way, didn't hear or notice anything that night. But he seems to be a simple soul, incapable of harm. Then a second member of yachting party is murdered and Maigret has to determine what secrets are being kept by all concerned.

I keep reading Maigret books and trying to convince myself that I like them. It's not working so well. It's not that the mysteries are bad--there's a good solid plot here and an interesting character study that could have been even more interesting if I didn't constantly feel like I was missing something. I think one problem may be with translation. For whatever reason, the conversations always seem a bit off and disjointed to me--like maybe the translator left out a word or three because he couldn't figure out what fit best in the context (we'll just leave that out...nobody'll notice). The non-dialogue portions of the story don't seem to suffer as much from this. So, perhaps I'm wrong. Maybe it's just the way Simenon wrote. But it comes across as if his characters have telepathy going on for parts of the conversation and he doesn't feel like he needs to report the portions that aren't said out loud. One thing I've learned about Maigret: Apparently the good inspector is in much better shape than I've previously imagined. He bikes like mad up and down along the canal all through the book. Makes me tired just reading about it. Solid mystery disrupted by the difficulties with the conversations.  ★★ and 3/4.

First line: Nothing could be deduced from the most minute reconstruction of the facts, except that the find by the two carters from Dizy was so to speak impossible.

...it was Maigret's turn to smile at seeing his companion* hunching himself over the wheel like a detective in pursuit of a criminal in an American film (p. 87; *driver of a bakery van)

Last line: And the skipper and his wife had gone off into the town to order mourning clothes.

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

Deaths = 4 (two strangled; one poisoned; fell from height)

Murder on "B" Deck

 Murder on "B" Deck (1929) by Vincent Starrett

Vincent Starrett, better known to me for his Holmesian work, gives readers a dose death on the high seas in his first murder mystery. Dunstan "Duns" Mollock, mystery writer and slightly Nigel Bruce-ish sidekick to Walter Ghost, is onboard the Latakia to see his sister and new hubby off on a voyage to England. The bon voyage party participants joke about what would happen if they didn't get off the boat in time and then Mollock manages to do just that. Fortunately, he runs into his old friend Walter Ghost, who seems to have influence over the captain, and, even more fortunately, he seems to run around with enough funds to cover a trip to England at the drop of a hat. He secures a first-class berth and is all set for a lovely voyage. He meets the delightful Miss Dhu Harrington and promptly sets about falling in love.

But the pleasant voyage is soon disrupted by the brutal murder of the Countess Fogartini. Ghost has a bit of a reputation as an amateur sleuth and the captain requests his help in unraveling the crime. There are few clues--in fact, at first it looks like the killer has gotten away without leaving a single trace. But then a rather ragged envelope with a lover's charm is found and speculation follows as to which passenger was the lover and whether he is also a killer. When Major Phillips (who had been quite attentive to the Countess) goes overboard, speculation goes further to say that he was the man. He must have killed the Countess in a jealous rage and then jumped overboard in a fit of remorse. But Ghost is not convinced. The major didn't seem to be that kind of man and he definitely is not the mystery man seen in a certain roll of film secured by the Countess. And when Ghost is attacked one night, it's obvious the culprit is still skulking among the passengers. He's only got five days to solve the crime before the ship docks in Cherbourg and passengers could leave the ship. Five days to track down a very careful killer.

As others on Goodreads have mentioned, I think the "B" in the title stands for "B" movie. I could definitely see this as an old black and white mystery/comedy. A younger, slightly less bumbling version of Nigel Bruce's Watson would be perfect as "Duns." The mystery itself is perfectly okay, though [spoiler encoded in ROT13] V ernyyl zhfg cebgrfg ba gur vqragvgl bs gur xvyyre. Ur'f zragvbarq rknpgyl gjvpr orsber gur ovt erirny. Naq gurer'f ab ernfba ba rnegu gb fhccbfr gung guvf cnffratre unf nal pbaarpgvba jungfbrire gb svefg pynff, yrg nybar gur Pbhagrff. Much smarter heads than mine are needed to figure that out. Another point keeping this from a higher rating is the fact that while a big deal is made about Ghost needing to find out who the killer is before Cherbourg, there is no real sense of urgency or speed. Things move rather slowly in the middle and I just never felt the pressure of time as referred to (more than once). 

This was a pleasant read and enjoyable enough. It just wasn't quite as exciting or interesting as I had hoped. ★★★

[If you'd like to decode the spoiler, then copy the coded portion, follow the link, and paste the the code into the box for decoding.]

First line: It was still three quarters of an hour to midnight when Mollock, attired in conventional black, reached the long pier at the foot of West Nineteenth Street and shouldered his way toward the gangplank of the Latakia.

Last line: "I am sure he has better sense."

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

Deaths = 3 (one strangled; one drowned; one natural)

Killer Loose! (spoilerish)

 Killer Loose! (1953) by Genevieve Holden (Genevieve Long Pou)

Synopsis (from my edition): One young girl died in an alley. Another, not so young, but undeniably beautiful, was murdered in her bath. The other victims were scattered through the city. And all of them word the trademark of the mad killer--a severed right arm...The police believed the murderer had been caught, convicted, and locked up properly in and insane asylum. Then one stormy night he escaped to do his bloody work on yet another girl--lovely young Janet Milton. Surrounded by police, in unfamiliar country, John Anders nevertheless managed to kidnap Janet and her young nephew. Janet's wiles seemed useless against the determined killer--until he grew careless. Then Janet used her last trick and got away. But she made a terrible mistake...

As I mentioned in my last review, I had randomly picked four books off my TBR stacks and, using just the first line (or lines since I misread punctuation on the one I chose), decided which book to read next. I also asked readers and friends on Facebook which line appealed to them. And Holden's first line was a general favorite. So...I decided to read it as well.

First off, I have to admit that woman in danger novels aren't my all-time favorites, though there are some exceptions, and I am especially not fond of those which also put children in danger. This does both. That's the negatives. On the plus side, we do have the sheriff and the police lieutenant doing some very nice standard detective work to unearth the clues that will point to the real killer and helps them to track down Janet and her nephew Tolly before it's too late. The motive is a little iffy for me--I know that the most inconsequential (to the average person) things might set an unbalanced person completely over the edge, but I still had difficulty with the reasoning. 

I did enjoy the two detectives and would definitely be interested in reading a more traditional mystery with either of them conducting the investigation (and no woman/child in danger being tracked all over the countryside). But from what I see on the internet (particularly at Mystery*File), it looks like she preferred Romantic/Gothic suspense-style novels. Still, a good solid mystery of its type. ★★★

First line: The dark gray bowl of sky cracked open; light flashed through the fissures, darted down into the tops of distant trees, whitened the roof of a farmhouse on a faraway hill.

Last line: He hung up, and, turning around to find her still  standing behind him, decided that, all in all, it had turned out to be a pretty wonderful day.

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

Deaths = 5 throat cut

Gaudy Night

 Continuing with my orgy of listening to Dorothy L. Sayers novels on audio, I've listened to the Gaudy Night (1935), the penultimate book in the Wimsey/Vane mystery cycle. As with the other audio reviews, I am not focusing so much on the whole story here. If you'd like to see my thoughts on the novel, please click the linked title above. 

Ian Carmichael gives another fine narrating performance, giving voice to a full range of characters from dons and students at Oxford to American visitors to members of the college staff. This particular round of hearing the story, I was reminded how much I enjoyed the interactions of Lord Peter with Mr. Padgett

For some reason, this affair of a mop and a bucket seemed to have made Padgett Peter’s slave for life. Men were very odd. 

as well as Harriet's encounters with Reggie Pomfret and Peter's nephew Lord St. George. There is a great deal of humor in this novel of poison pen antics at a women's college. Of course, there are also more serious themes from the eternal question of romance between our two main characters to the value of intellectual honesty versus the well-being of a man and his family. Sayers addresses some interesting intellectual subjects under the guise of an entertaining mystery with romantic undertones. Carmichael brings humor, warmth, and depth to his reading of the story. And it is always soothing to reread (or re-listen to) my old favorites. ★★★★★

First line: Harriet Vane sat at her writing-table and stared out into Mecklenburg Square.

Last line: He primly settled his white bands and went upon his walk unheeded; and no hand plucked his velvet sleeve.

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

Deaths = one shot

The Parchment Key

 So, for one of the prompts in my Vintage Scattergories Reading Challenge, I'm tasked with randomly selecting four books, reading the first line of each and then choosing one of the four to read--based on that first line. Here are the selections:

Toward morning a little breeze came up and, without walking, Vine burrowed feet and shoulders deeper into the sand. (Death Against Venus by Dana Chambers)

The skating pond at Rockefeller Center was crowded. (The Corpse That Walked by Octavus Roy Cohen)

When the taxi crashed on a New York downtown side street, the radio continued playing. "The forces of fascism and nazism are no new and alien thing in this world of ours," a voice declared rather sententiously into the darkness. (The Parchment Key by Stanley Hopkins, Jr. [Blythe Morley])

The dark gray bowl of sky cracked open; light flashed through the fissures, darted down into the tops of distant trees, whitened the roof of a farmhouse on a faraway hill. (Killer Loose! by Genevieve Holden)

[I'm writing this part on May 7--before I've started my chosen book. I don't know which one grabbed your attention, but as the title of this review indicates, I decided to go for The Parchment Key. The first line makes me wonder how important that taxi crash is to the story and also if nazis/fascists (spies?) might play a part. I haven't yet read a synopsis of the book, so I'm going into this blind. We'll see what I think by the time I get to the final page...]

 The setting is World War II-era New York. Lt. Bob Danvers and Private Peter Marrell are stateside for a bit of well-earned leave. But rest and relaxation is not going to be on the cards for these two servicemen. Danvers and his wife have just visited her sister at Cliff End and can't shake off the feeling that something is not quite right at the home of Alice and Martin Stanford. Oh, there was the poisoning of the Stanfords' prize-winning Great Dane, but it was more than that. A sense of unexplained tension that existed before the dog was killed. There's also the fact that Janny Danvers just lost her job at a prominent magazine--for no discernible reason--and has nearly been run over twice. 

Peter Marrell has earned himself a reputation as a bit of an amateur detective. Danvers met Marrell in England and knew that the private would be on leave at the same time as he. He mentioned the fact to Stanfords, which resulted in the Marrells receiving an invitation to visit Cliff End. Martin Stanford would like Marrell to investigate the dog's death and make sure that it doesn't happen again--especially since a big dog show will be held on the Cliff End grounds the next weekend. More disturbing things happen from a fire in the guest room trash can to the destruction of Janny's B.A. diploma to an outbreak of juvenile delinquency. Between those incidents and various others which seem directed at Alice Martin, Marrell has his hands full and he needs to move quickly to prevent another casualty.

Well, it took nearly the whole book, but I finally found out whether the taxi crash was important. One thing I don't understand (and totally missed if it was explained) is: why the key? I understand why the parchment in question was mutilated. But I don't understand why the culprit left a key shape. Pure destruction of the document was the goal and the bits could have been left to make the same point; the key is superfluous. But that's a minor quibble. The main thing that keeps this story from a higher score is the rather haphazard nature of the opening chapters. It takes the narrative a while to settle down--Hopkins doesn't seem to have been as good at offering several viewpoints in advance of the main story line as some authors. (First, the cop on the scene of the taxi accident; then Bob Danvers, then Peter Marrell...). I wasn't sure who was going to be our primary protagonist for a while.

This is one of the few mysteries I've read from the period where the central issues of WWII are very important but which does not involve spies/espionage (yes, that bit from the radio in the first lines is relevant to the story). I enjoyed the way Hopkins worked the themes into the solution (and how relevant some of the discussion is, unfortunately, in more recent years). I also enjoyed Peter Marrell and was glad that he wound up being our detective. He's not your standard amateur detective and one gets the idea that he just might be involved in intelligence work (despite protests to the contrary). From what I've been able to find on the web, this is the second of only two detective novels by Hopkins (Morley) which is unfortunate because I would have been interested in seeing how her technique developed. ★★★ and 1/2.

First line (above)

Last line: "Mummy," she said, may I kiss the nice man good night?"

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

Deaths = 4 (one car accident; one poisoned [Champion Great Dane named: Cliff End Lady]; one pneumonia; one drowned)

Parcels for Inspector West

 Parcels for Inspector West (1956) John Creasey

The Christmas rush is on at the post office, but the River Way sorting office is going to be short one employee. Someone has murdered the inoffensive, well-liked Tom Bryant when he was on his way home for an early Christmas party. There have been a rash of postal bag robberies and Inspector Roger West has to wonder if Bryant's death is in any way connected. But then there's also the question of why the postal sorter, who makes less than ten pounds a week, had a hundred pounds in his pocket. The fact that the money was thee for the police to find wound seem to indicate that robbery wasn't the motive. 

Then the man's eldest son disappears, someone breaks into his home, and attacks his son's fiancée. What could the Bryants have that is worth killing for? West will need to find out quickly because someone is desperate and ruthless enough that they won't let scruples (their own or anyone else's) get in the way of what they want.

This really is a pretty violent little police procedural (only 157 pages)--what with five people dying from bashing on the head (and several other attacks). But, despite West's focus on the murders, that's not what grabs the attention in the Roger West books. Creasey is terrific with characters and manages to give everyone attention in the short space afforded. We feel like we really know the Bryants--even though some of the family are on stage for extremely brief periods. We become very invested in the family and even more interested in seeing the killers brought to justice. 

The police procedure takes the forefront and less emphasis on puzzling out clues. The most interesting one revolves around the fingerprint. And--if readers are more discerning than I, they will spot a clue given early on that points to the solution behind the mystery of the print. It's planted so casually and so well that I don't even think I need to mark this as a spoiler. Another good mystery plot by a master of police procedurals. ★★★★

First line: The police car turned the corner of the ill-lit suburban street.

Last line: He looked at them speculatively as he sipped his drink

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

Deaths = five hit on head

The Vanishing Thief

 The Vanishing Thief (2013) by Kate Parker

Georgia Fenchurch owns a quiet little bookstore in Victorian London. She inherited it after watching her parents killed before her eye and she makes enough money to keep herself and two women she helped rescue from unpleasant circumstances. Oh...I forgot to mention...Georgia is also a member of the Archivist Society, a secret group of private investigators who look into matters that the police won't touch. She and Sir Broderick, once her father's partner and now the patron of the society, set up detective service to help bring about justice for others. In Georgia's case, it's her way of atoning for her (what she views as) her failure to save her parents and her responsibility for Sir Broderick's loss of mobility. When her parents were abducted, she ran to Sir Broderick for help. They attempted to rescue the Fenchurches from a burning building, but The roof collapsed and Sir Broderick was crippled by a falling beam.

Since then, Georgia has helped investigate cases that brought her shop assistant, Emma, and their honorary aunt Phyllida (formerly Lady Phyllida Monthalf) into her life. The ladies are settled in for a days' work in the bookshop, when a frantic woman by the name of Edith Carter comes to Georgia with a story of an abduction. She claims that the Duke of Blackford has kidnapped her next door neighbor and that blood was left behind in the man's house. But Nicholas Drake's servants deny the bloodstains (which have since been wiped up) and claim that Drake has gone to visit friends in Brighton. She tried going to the police, but they don't believe her and think she's just a meddling busybody. Georgia is a bit doubtful of portions of the woman's story--her vagueness about what she saw, for one thing--but she's sure the woman really cares for Drake and that something happened. But after asking questions of Blackford and his servants, she's not convinced he's responsible.

The Archivists decide to take up the case and they soon discover that Drake was not a blameless character himself. He's been accused of thievery and it looks like he's been blackmailing some very influential society members. The Duke of Blackford has tried to forbid investigation and says he'll handle things, but he's one of the blackmail victims, so it's certainly possible that he could have had Drake snatched. When Georgia and the Archivists refuse to give up the case, the Duke offers to help--but can he be trusted?

Meanwhile, Georgia has had a glimpse of her parents' killer and spends part of her time trying to track him down. She's vowed to bring him to justice, no matter what it costs her. The Duke offers to help her with that as well. Why is he being so helpful all of a sudden? There are several deaths along the way and it becomes even more difficult to discern who is doing what. The trails lead to blazing finale that's all too reminiscent of the fire that killed her parents and while the mystery revolving around Drake is finally cleared up,  Georgia is left with even more questions about the man who killed her parents.

This was an interesting beginning to a new historical mystery series and I do like the Victorian period. Georgia is a fine character and the supporting cast (comprised of her household and the Archivist members) are also well-drawn. I do tire the trope of the clashing male/female characters who will, of course, wind up romantically involved--it hasn't happened yet, but the plot bears all the hallmarks (and I confess to peeking at the blurbs for future installments and, yep, it's gonna happen). Fortunately, the two characters involved are interesting enough that I think I can get over my tiredness.... ★★★ and 1/2 for a strong opening book.

First line: Early spring rain drenched London in a cold damp that either kept customers away or drove them into the bookshop.

Last lines: I knew someday both the Duke of Blackford and the killer would return. I planned to be ready.

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

Deaths: 9 (three burned alive; three poisoned; one strangled; one drowned; one stabbed)

Flying Too High

 Flying Too High (1990) by Kerry Greenwood

The second installment in the Phryne Fisher mystery series set in 1920s Australia finds Miss Fisher with her sleuthing hands quite full. She's first approached by a very nervous Mrs. McNaughton who is quite convinced that her loud, hot-headed son is going to murder his equally loud, hot-headed father in cold blood. The two have clashed regularly ever since the younger man was born and she has found a note where her son says, "If the pater doesn't come to the party, it will all be up. May have to remove him." She's certain that he means remove him...permanently. Phryne isn't so sure, but promises to look into it.

Bill, the son, is a flying enthusiast and, of course, Phryne happens to be a pretty good pilot herself, so she arranges to run across him at the airfield. She exhibits her rather extraordinary flying skill and throws in a bit of wing-walking as a bonus and has his full attention. That's when she tells him how worried his mother is and can't he arrange to argue with his father somewhere where his mother won't overhear. He promises faithfully to do so.

The next thing she knows, Mr. McNaughton has been bashed over the head with a stone and Bill has been arrested as the handiest suspect. Inspector Benson is a man who likes his theories and once he's decided upon one, he manages to make facts fit it or ignore the inconvenient ones that don't. Phryne asks him several inconvenient questions that he passes off as silly ladies' fancies and goes right on believing that he's found his man. Phryne knows better after spotting two clues at the scene of crime and sets off to prove Bill innocent.

Meanwhile, Candida Maldon, a precocious, head-strong six year old has been snatched as she's on her way home from the candy store. A thoroughly nasty man, a slightly less nasty woman, and her less-than-enthusiastic-about-the-whole-thing boyfriend have kidnapped the girl because her father has recently won 10,000 pounds in a sweepstake. And they think he needs to give them half the proceeds. Mr. Maldon's good friend Jack Leonard has heard about (and met) the fabulous Phryne Fisher and suggests that they call upon her to help get Candida back safely. Phryne devises a cunning plan involving an airplane, luminous paint, and a perilous ride (for her) on the back of the culprit's car to track the kidnappers to their hideout. Naturally, since Phryne is the grown-up version of Nancy Drew, her plans to free both Bill and Candida come off and the bad guys are caught and get their just desserts.

Another fun adventure which combines very nice detective work in the McNaughton case with a thrilling car chase in the Maldon kidnapping. We get lots of Bert and Cec as they are sent to track down clues in the former while Phryne lays her plans to thwart the kidnappers. This second installment in the series also introduces us to Mr. and Mrs. Butler and shows us how they acclimate themselves to their rather unusual employer. All in all, a very good entry in the series. ★★★★

First line: Candida Alice Maldon was being a bad girl.

Last line: "You've gone and lost me my murder."

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

Deaths = 2 (one hit on head; one shot)

April Pick of the Month

 

Another month in the books (😉) and it's time to see what I've read and which mystery stands out among the crowd. I'm still keeping up a good pace--trudging right along. I managed another 22 books in April and all but four had a mystery flair. As long as I keep marching along at this rate, I'll be planting a flag on Mount Olympus on Mars (in my Mount TBR challenge) before the year is out.  I'm still looking for that elusive five-star rating for a new-to-me mystery novel. The only five-star winner this month goes to Berkeley Breathed for his Brand Spanking New Day (in Bloom County). We'll take a look at the mystery star ratings in a moment, but before we hand out the shiny prize, let's take a look at the stats.

Total Books Read: 22
Total Pages: 6,089
Average Rating: 3.34 stars  
Top Rating: 5 stars 
Percentage by Female Authors: 45%

Percentage by Male Authors: 50%

Percentage by both Female & Male Authors: 5%
Percentage by US Authors: 55%
Percentage by non-US/non-British Authors:  10%
Percentage Mystery: 86%

Percentage Fiction: 91%
Percentage written 2000+: 36%
Percentage of Rereads: 18%
Percentage Read for Challenges: 100% {It's easy to have every book count for a challenge when you sign up for as many as I do.}    
Number of Challenges fulfilled so far: 10 (32%)

Mysteries Read:

Take Two at Bedtime by Margery Allingham (3 stars)

Evan's Gate by Rhys Bowen (3 stars)

The Case of the Sapphire Brooch by Christopher Bush (3 stars)

Dead Little Rich Girl by Norbert Davis (4 stars)

The Guest List by Lucy Foley (4 stars)

Raisins & Almonds by Kerry Greenwood (3.5 stars)

The Body in the Fog by Cora Harrison (4 stars)

The Haunting of Horse Island by Carolyn Keene (3 stars)

Nancy Drew Ghost Stories by Carolyn Keene (3 stars)

The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes (3.5 stars)

The Sunburned Corpse by Adam Knight (1 star)

Lieutenant Pascal's Tastes in Homicide by Hugh Pentecost (3.5 stars)

Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers (4 stars)

The Black Mountain by Rex Stout (1 star)

Death & the Professor by E. & M. A. Radford (4 stars)

Luck Be a Lady, Don't Die by Robert J. Randisi (3 stars)

The Black Hand by Will Thomas (3.5 stars)

Always Lock Your Bedroom Door by Roy Winsor (3.5 stars)

As mentioned above, the only five-star winner this month was a non-mystery book. The best that mysteries could do was four stars and we have five books in that garnered that rating: Dead Little Rich Girl by Norbert Davis, The Guest List by Lucy Foley, The Body in the Fog by Cora Harrison, Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers, and Death & the Professor by E. & M. A. Radford. Sayers was a reread, so I'm afraid she's disqualified. Let's take the others in the order read. The Body in the Fog is a fast-paced, middle-grade mystery set in Victorian England. The main characters are an interesting and quick-witted group of street urchins who find ways to help the official police. Lots to like here for young readers and the plot is pretty good for the age range. Death & the Professor has a group of experts in various fields (or a group dedicated to mysteries) with one member who shines at solving the puzzles and who points out the solutions. The set-up has been used before by Anthony Berkeley in The Poisoned Chocolates Case and by Isaac Asimov in his stories about the Black Widowers. Miss Marple does it in the Tuesday Club stories as well. The classic outline is well done in the eight interconnected stories given here...and the Radfords put their own special twist on it. And The Guest List was a wild ride--just over 300 pages and I read it all in one day, and nearly all in one sitting. It's always interesting to read a thriller where the group is cut off from civilization or whatnot by weather; when you just know something's going to happen because help is going to be so long coming. Foley provides lots of motive and plenty of twists and turns to keep the plot moving in this real page-turner. I did figure out the primary motive, though I wasn't sure to whom it belonged. The one real drawback is how few of the characters are really likeable and it was difficult to find anyone worth rooting for. But overall a good, well-plotted story. 

Having three such disparate styles doesn't make our judge's task any easier. Shall we go to a commercial while we wait for the final verdict?

Oh...hey there. Back so soon. Okay. Yes, I know. I need to make a decision. That being the case.... [psst...drum roll please...] April's POM Award goes to....Cora Harrison and The Body in the Fog. I just really enjoyed my visit to Victorian England in the company of Alfie and his cohorts. And I especially appreciate that Harrison was able to give us such a good mystery as well. Let's hear it for Alfie and friends!