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GAD Mystery Word of the Day

My newest mystery meme: the Golden Age of Detection (GAD*) Mystery Word of the Day. Whenever I find a word that I'm unfamiliar with--or shall we say not absolutely confident I know the exact meaning of, I'm going to actually take time to look it up and share it with mystery-lovers everywhere. There will be occasional words from more modern mysteries as well. 😊

So--I went of vacation towards the end of May and promptly fell off the word wagon. Let's try and start this up again. Today's GAD Mystery Word of the Day: Contumacious (adj) --stubbornly disobedient, rebellious, or willfully resistant to authority.

"Master Maggsy," I told the child, "you're a contumacious wretch." (A Conspiracy of Poisons by J. G. Jeffreys

Murder on Fleet Street

 Murder on Fleet Street (2020) by Lee Strauss 
(read by Elizabeth Klett) 

Lord George Whitmore is a well-known older society gent with a roving eye. He's also been dabbling as a "employee" of a London bank (though no one seems to know exactly what he does). Ginger Reed aka Lady Gold of Lady Gold Investigations also knows him as a fellow secret service agent during the war. When Whitmore is found dead in the bath of his latest side entertainment, it's difficult to know if the deed is related to his philandering (a vengeful wife or the mistress's wish to be rid of him, something mysterious at the bank, or his ties to the secret service. But after Ginger finds a coded message in her pocket after a chance encounter with the gentleman shortly before his death, she suspects the latter. And when Captain Smithwick, her "handler" during her war service, shows up and asks her to take up the job once more to help track down a Communist cell in London, she's proved right.

Whitmore had been on the cell's trail and had just discovered their meeting place (revealed once Ginger cracks his code) before he was killed. Smithwick insists that she pose as a French Communist contact and try to infiltrate the cell. At this point in her life, Ginger has more hostages to fate--especially with the recent adoption of Scout--and is reluctant to put them in danger. But she really doesn't have a choice. And it's going to be difficult to keep her undercover investigation from her sharp-eyed husband Inspector Basil Reed, especially since he's the one investigating Lord Whitmore's death.

Somewhat spoilerish ahead! 

So, this is one of my favorite historical mystery series. It's possibly my favorite cozy-leaning historical mystery series. That would be why the plot in this one (and to some extent Murder at Bray Manor) goes a bit against the grain. I'm sure Ginger was a terrific agent in the war and I'd even be willing to read a series of books that were based on that work. But--I'm not a huge fan of dragging in the secret service angle now. Especially now that she's married to Basil and has various family commitments--hostages to fortune as I mentioned. And I really don't like Captain Smithwick. He does redeem himself at the end of this one and (Spoiler!) I wouldn't wish his fate on anyone, but I haven't enjoyed the plots with him shoved in nearly as much. He also seems to bring a bit more violence with him when he shows up. In this one we get Ginger and Basil tied up with a bomb ready to blow them to smithereens. I'm just glad we didn't decide to somehow put Scout in danger as well.

Once the Communist cell connection was made, the solution became fairly obvious, though it was a coin toss between the two most prominent members as to who actually did the deed. Not one of the best-plotted mysteries in the series, particularly in terms of clues and red herrings, but a good enough diversion for a few days. ★★★

First line: Mrs. Ginger Reed, also known around the city of London as Lady Gold, loved a good party, and if the official adoption of her son Scout wasn't a fabulous reason to celebrate then she could think of what was.

Last line: "Oh, Basil! I can't believe we're going to have a baby!"
*******************

Deaths = 3 (one electrocuted; one stabbed; one bomb explosion)

Murder in the Mystery Suite

 Murder in the Mystery Suite (2014) by Ellery Adams

This is the first in a series of  "Book Retreat Mysteries" set at Storyton Hall in the hills of western Virginia. Storyton Hall and the town which has grown up around it is a retreat for book lovers. The Hall is full of books and quiet nooks where those who love to read can come for a nice restful vacation with the printed page. There's a bookstore in town, a lovely little cafe, and, for those who want a bit of outdoorsy adventure as well, a place to rent horses. Which brings us to our first death--a beautiful young woman (whom nobody knows), comes careening through town on a runaway horse. A handsome young man, brother of our heroine Jane Steward's best friend, follows in a mad attempt to stop the horse. He manages to do so, but the young woman falls off--dead. Mystery number one--who is she? Why did she come to Storyton? Who shot the arrow that spooked the horse? And why did she did? The police can find no answers.

Meanwhile, Jane, who has taken over the management of Storyton Hall from her late husband's Aunt Octavia and Uncle Aloysius, is planning the first-ever themed event in an effort to boost the Hall's financial situation. It will be a Mystery & Mayhem Week for mystery fans to gather for role-playing, scavenger hunts, mystery plays, and fantasy crime-solving. The big prize will be a first edition by the late Adela Dundee, creator of the great Italian detective Umberto Ferrari. Little does Jane know that there will be some real-life Murder & Mayhem, the loss of a far more valuable Dundee first-edition, and the discovery that her husband's family have even more valuable treasures at risk...and a number of people at Storyton Hall are not exactly what they appear to be. She will need to sharpen her own detective skills to find a killer, prevent more deaths, and return the missing book to its rightful place....

Spoilers Ahead!!!

Cannot fully discuss without letting a few cats out of bags.

So...first off. This is just plain fun for someone who loves books and mysteries. A resort devoted to books? A retreat where you can read to your heart's content, surrounded by books and by other people who love books? Sign me up! Having the owners devote a whole week to mysteries with a mystery-related scavenger hunt, amateur productions of mystery plays, a costume ball to dress up as your favorite detective? Yes, please. A good mystery plot that revolves around a deceased mystery writer's secret and a special edition of a book? Even better. Interesting characters? You betcha. 

And now...we get to the cats escaping from bags. So....we have a family of book guardians plopped down in the hills of Virginia in a transplanted English country house and they have a bunch of ninja/special agent/what-have-yous on staff to help them protect the secret stash of incredibly valuable and unknown works by famous authors. Okay. Fine. I can go with that. Maybe. But....you're telling me that Aunt Octavia, one of the guardians, would leave a valuable first edition with a top-secret letter from the author (so top-secret that it's been left sealed and no one has read it) stashed in the dust jacket just lying about where it could get mixed up with an almost identical, not-so-valuable first edition? That we wouldn't stash that in the hidden vault with all the other treasures?? Seriously? I mean, I realize that we lose a chunk of the plot if we're not playing hunt-the-missing book for 2/3 of the story and we might not have as many murders (or any at all), but after the crash-course in book guardianship that Jane Steward, our newest guardian, gets which drills home the idea that we have to protect the books at all costs...well, you'd think Aunt Octavia would have been a bit more cautious.

But...putting that quibble aside. This is a delightful new series debut. I can't wait to see where things go with Jane and her new duties in the next book (though I must say if we're going to have an endless parade of murders--there's nine books in the series that I see online--then I'd think folks would get a bit leery of staying at Storyton Hall). ★★★★

First line: There were books everywhere.

Last line: "My next chapter has just begun."
********************

Deaths = three poisoned

A Particular Eye for Villainy

 A Particular Eye for Villainy (2012) by Ann Granger

Mr. Thomas Tapley, an eccentric, scholarly, older man is found bludgeoned to death in his sitting room in the lodgings he rents from a Quaker lady. Fortunately, Inspector Benjamin Ross of Scotland Yard is a nearby neighbor and is quickly on the scene. But it's difficult to discover a motive or even a suspect for the death of a man with no apparent connections or past. But then Mr. Jonathan Tapley, QC, hears of the death and comes to identify him. It seems that Thomas Tapley had left England for France in the wake of scandal that threatened his family's good name. But what brought him back to England now? And who knew he was here and might have wanted to kill him? 

Coincidentally, Ben's wife Lizzie had seen Thomas earlier that day--and is convinced that a man dressed as a clown was following him. She also learns that he had a mysterious visitor a few days before his death. There's also the foreign couple who showed a great deal of interest in Tapley's country property. The list of suspects slowly begins to mount and when Ben realizes that the killer must have run off with Thomas's latch key, he knows that he will have a way to tie the culprit to the crime...if he can find him. And if the killer holds on to the key.

I seem to have jumped into the Inspector Ross series mid-stream, but that didn't affect my reading pleasure one bit. Granger doesn't seem to have a long story-arc going on as seems to be popular with so many series, so while it might be nice to see Lizzie and Ben meet for the first time and then settle into married life, nothing is spoiled in their life story by starting with book four. 

I quite liked the set-up: reclusive scholarly man who loves his books (and apparently spends what money he has left after lodging costs on the written word). The man has a mysterious past, no visitors (generally speaking), and there's no apparent reason for anyone to wish him dead. It's interesting to watch Ben and Lizzie each dig in their own ways to find out more about their mysterious neighbor. Granger also does a good job with the historical details and I enjoyed my visit to her version of the Victorian period. Once we learn certain details about Thomas's past, it's not difficult to figure out who killed him, but it makes for an interesting story nonetheless. ★★★ and 1/2

First line: A fine spring day in London isn't to be compared with spring in the countryside but the city does its best.

Biddle now turned even redder and I feared his head would burst into flames in the only case I'd ever seen or was likely to see of spontaneous combustion. (p. 55)

Maidservants operate a sort of telegraph system of their own by which anything like that [gossip] runs round like like wildfire. (p. 69)

"You always had a funny sort of interest in corpses. Ladies do have hobbies, I know. Only generally it's painting flowers or bothering the poor with their good works. But your pa was a sawbones, I recollect you telling me. So I suppose it runs in the family. You certainly have a particular eye for murder." (Mr. Slater; p. 86)

Last lines: "Then she'll be truly happy..." Lizzie reached out and took my hand..."like you and me."
*****************

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

[Finished on 6/17/26--just got the review done.]

The Case of Cabin 13

 The Case of Cabin 13 (1999) by Sam McCarver

Synopsis (from the back of the book): Passengers are dying on the White Star Lines transatlantic ocean liners. Three mysterious suicides, on three different ships--all in first-class cabins numbered 13. And with the maiden voyage of their newest ship imminent--an incomparably lavis vessel called the Titanic--the cruise line can't afford a fourth. With the police stumped, Professor John Darnell, the world's first and only "paranormal detective," may be their last hope of debunking rumors of a murderous ghost. Soon the famed skeptic has agreed to be the next occupant of cabin 13--and he's sure it's no spirit he's after.

As the world's largest and purportedly safest ship sets sail, neither Darnell's sixth sense nor his investigative skills can protect him from the twin perils he is about to face. Can the American-born Englishman possibly survive the deadly forces of both nature and man? Because somewhere on the icy sea, a killer is lurking...

Okay...I've got to get a couple of things off my chest at the outset. First there's our hero, the "first and only 'paranormal detective.'" Really? I believe (if we're sticking to fictional characters) that Sheridan Le Fanu's Dr. Martin Hesselius (from the 1870s) and William Hope Hodgson's Thomas Carnacki (first written of in 1910) would like a word. And then, like the historical mysteries that are littered with strong-minded women and the men who love and encourage them, the Titanic seems to be bursting with fictional detectives who are hot on the trail of murderers and who manage to find one of the limited spots on a lifeboat to live to tell the tale. As I said in my review of the Holmes pastiche which finds Holmes and Watson onboard the ill-fated ship:

...if all the fictional people who have sailed on the Titanic and lived to tell the tale had actually been there and done that....well, none of the real, live people who survived the tragedy could actually have made it. There wouldn't be room on the survivor roll call. 

Now that we've got those two quibbles out of the way...I am enthusiastic about this take on a mystery set on the Titanic as well as the mystery itself. The plot has a few flaws (like Darnell not actually deducing who the killer is and only finding out when the culprit sneaks into his cabin to see if the poison in his sherry had done the job), but Darnell is a charming character with a lot of promise and potential. The motive for the crimes make sense and could have been deduced, so there's a definite attempt at fair play here. It was interesting to see that McCarver gave some of the reported actions of Lightoller and Ismay to Darnell and the killer respectively, but it was done in good faith to service the fictional murder plot. This is a good debut to a series that has five more entries. ★★★ and 1/2

First line: Professor John Darnell smiled as he poked his way along through the clammy opaqueness of the thick, moist fog, using his black umbrella as a walking stick.

Last line: "I think you know," he said, smiling into her eyes, "which cabin we won't take."
****************

Deaths = 18 (two overboard; one poisoned one shot; one natural; thirteen drowned)

Spellbound

 Spellbound (apa The House of Dr. Edwardes; 1927) by Francis Beeding (John Leslie Palmer & Hilary St. George Saunders)

This is the novel that the Hitchcock movie featuring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck was adapted from. It revolves around a "House of Rest" (for which, read a mental asylum) which serves as a haven for the imbalanced rich and a place where Dr. Edwardes, who owns the castle on the on mountain, can study interesting cases without worrying about money. The house, a literal fortress, sits in a circle or rock surrounded on three sides by the sheer slope of a desolate mountain in Switzerland. When night comes, it is a great crouching black hulk which the townspeople claim is the home of the Devil himself.

Constance Sedwick is a recently qualified doctor. Dr. Edwardes is an old friend of her father's and Edwardes offers her the position of his assistant. But before she arrives, Dr. Edwardes was sent away by his own doctor for a much needed rest and she finds a young Dr. Murchison, a doctor brought in from England, in charge of the asylum. At first all seems well, but Murchison has some odd quirks--reading books about the Devil and flinching when the shadow of a cross falls on him. There is also the funeral of one of the attendants at the hospital--murdered by the newest inmate. And a tale told by the villagers of blood which appears on the white stone in the black wood whenever the Devil is about. 

Things get worse...the inmates, who were fairly docile and benign in their own delusions begin to act in strange, more menacing ways. They talk about a wedding to come and begin patrolling around Constance's room at night..."to protect her." But she believes there is danger coming. Can she escape it--and take the innocent with her?

A very interesting read. I haven't actually seen the Hitchcock film (one of several of his films that I have yet to see), so I didn't have any preconceptions going in. Quite suspenseful, though I was a little disappointed that Constance didn't catch on to what was going on a little sooner. The characters are great--particularly the patients at the asylum. Beeding does a great job making each one distinct so it's easy to keep track of who is who. 

This is very much a "how will the heroine get out of this?" and "will the villain get away with it?" kind of story rather than a whodunnit. It's pretty obvious (to the reader, if not to Constance) pretty quick what's going on here...it's just a matter of how will everything be resolved. Now I want to go watch the movie. ★★★★

1st Line (Prologue): Dearest Helen, How delightful to get your letter, which we found waiting for us at Thonon.

John is an angel, but I shouldn't care to take a honeymoon with anybody; so don't be rash, and if ever you feel in the consenting mood, which so often happens, pull yourself together and think it over. Fortunately, John and I agree about all the most important things. What I mean is that we both like to sleep with the window open. (p. 7)

1st Line (1st Chapter): Constance Sedgwick, M.D., aged twenty-six, was staring at herself critically in the long mirror.

Fortunately for Doctor Edwardes, lunacy is not confined to the poorer classes; and he had treated in his time more than one poor gentleman who, if ha had not been sitting so comfortably in Chateau Landry, might have been sitting rather less at his ease, though possibly quite as much at home, in the House of Lords. (p. 13)

Last Line: I must stop now or I shall be losing the post. We are moving on next week to Bordighera and Alaisso. My best love to you all, Always your affectionate Susan"
******************

Deaths =6 (two fell from height; two stabbed; one natural; one in war)

IU Summer Reading Challenge

 

For the first time ever, Indiana University, my alma mater and current employer, is hosting a summer reading challenge. The challenge runs from June 1 - Sept 1, 2026. And you know me--I can't resist a reading challenge. So here I go...

To complete the challenge, you can go for the usual across, down, or diagonal bingo OR you can complete the IU trident symbol (red squares) OR you can try to cover the card. I'm currently working on the trident. 

1. The Harlot of St. Cecelia's by Darcy Graves (Debut Novel)

2. A Case of Life & Limb by Sally Smith (Historical Fiction Novel)

3. Spellbound by Francis Beeding (One-Word Title)

4. The Case of Cabin 13 by Sam McCarver (Book with Number in Title)
5. A Particular Eye for Villainy by Ann Granger (Told from Multiple POV)
6. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams (From My Own Shelves)

7. A Conspiracy of Poisons by J. G. Jeffreys (Mystery/Thriller)

8. 

A Case of Life & Limb

 A Case of Life & Limb (2025) by Sally Smith

It's the Christmas season in the Temple and even the King's Counsellors are feeling festive with the dusting of snow. It's time for a break in court appearances, family gatherings, and presents in pretty packages. But the gaily-wrapped that shows up on Sir William Waring's doorstep doesn't exactly contain glad tidings of great joy. A desiccated severed hand is wrapped up in the tissue paper within...with a card that says: Can I give you a hand?

After Sir Gabriel Ward's success at tracking down a murder just a few months ago, Waring turns to him again to discreetly investigate the origins of the grisly package. Gabriel would much rather spend his time preparing for a particularly difficult libel case brought by the beautiful and beloved music hall star Topsy Tillotson against the notorious tabloid newspaper, the Nation's Voice. The newspaper had published a story that Topsy, known as "the unconquerable," had been truly conquered by the Honorable Frederick Sewell. She swears she doesn't know the man, has never even met him, and that the story is a filthy lie. And she wants Gabriel to represent her in the case against the tabloid. He has quite a job ahead of him to prove their case. And now he has to divide his time on a hunt for the practical joker with a morbid sense of humor.

But when more packages arrive and the shock of receiving one kills one of Gabriel's oldest friends withing the Inner Temple, he knows he must devote more time to the investigation. It becomes quite evident that someone has a deep-set grudge against the members of the Temple and doesn't mind if a few people die while they exact their revenge. Gabriel teams up with his new-found friend Constable Wright of the City of London Police to bring the culprit to justice...all while finding a way to salvage the reputation of his client in the libel case.

This was a terrific follow-up to Gabriel's debut in A Case of Mice & Murder. Often the second book in a series is weaker than the debut, but not so in this case. Gabriel has gained confidence in his sleuthing skills (which spills over into his conduct of the libel case--out-performing the histrionic Sir Edward Hopkins and winning over the jury with flair and emotion). His relationship with Constable Wright has also progressed and the two make an even better sleuthing team than before. I enjoyed watching them investigate the mysteries--both together and separately--and particularly enjoyed Wright's dishing out a bit of extra justice when Sewell receives what seems to be a mere hand-slap. 

This is a particularly satisfying mystery--even if I did see one part of the ending coming. But I have to say that I found the development of Gabriel's character even more satisfying. Smith is gradually widening his experience--the man has had a set pattern to his life and few social interactions or commitments beyond those necessitated by his profession. Constable Wright is becoming a good friend and the way a certain cat by the name of Delphinium insinuates herself into his routine is delightful. I am eager to see where the next Case takes him. ★★★★ and 1/2

First line: No hint of the horror to come was discernible in the pure snow.

"Nothing is horrible beyond description," said Gabriel, his inner lawyer--ever alert to inaccuracy of vocabulary--challenged this observation. "Words are all we have. Everything is describable, however terrible. Look at Medea; look at the Book of Revelation; look, for that matter, at Dracula." (Gabriel Ward; p. 10)

Last lines: Really, he thought to himself disagreeably, sometimes I do wonder about Sir Gabriel Ward KC. Now he has taken to walking about the Tempe with that objectionable cat at his heels. A lawyer of his seniority and distinction. One of our King's Counsell! In public! I shall have to speak to him.
*******************

Deaths = 4 (two natural; one hit on head; one strangled)

The Harlot of St. Cecelia's

 The Harlot of St. Cecelia's (2026) by Darcy Graves

Synopsis (from the back of the book): London, 1923. American expat librarian Eden Brior thinks things are bad when she is accidentally locked overnight in the St. Cecelia's Library vault with the charming and unreliable playboy Simon Cross. Then she emerges to find the body of his estranged wife, a French actress, draped over a chair upstairs.

Detective Inspector William Garrett is quiet, perceptive, and fairly certain he already has his man. He tells Eden to go home, read a book, and leave the detecting to the professionals But how can she?

Racing to clear their names before Garrett closes the case, Eden follows the truth from the bright footlights of the London stage through the sleek drawing rooms of Jazz Age society, and secrets that someone will kill to keep buried.

Eden believes Garrett has decided that she and Cross may be in cahoots and this leads to her seeking answers on her own. When Simon's sister Meg also finds Garrett's investigation to be too focused on her brother, she and Eden join forces to out-sleuth the sleuths. And it's amazing what suspects and witnesses will tell ladies that they'd never dream of telling the police...But when their queries put them too close on the murderer's trail, they find that s/he isn't afraid to kill again if necessary to keep their secrets safe.

This is a marvelous debut novel in a new historical series. My favorite historical time period runs from the Victorian era through World War II and this look at the years between the wars was a great treat. The characters are vivid and well-defined and even though we've just met, I feel like I've known Eden and Meg, Simon and Inspector Garrett for ages. Eden and Meg make an excellent amateur detective team and really steal the show from Garrett (if he's intended to the be the leading recurring character). Not that the inspector doesn't have his charm. One definitely sympathizes with his trials and tribulations with his less competent subordinates (and superior, if the truth be told). One gets the feeling that he could really shine if there were better support amongst his colleagues. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward with great anticipation for future installments! ★★★★ 

First line: There was very nearly a murder in the Library that Thursday afternoon.

Last line: when he reached the end of the street Garrett turned and looked back, but she had returned to her garden.
********************

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

[finished on 6/1/26--but vacation delayed my review]

 ~~~This book was given to me as a review copy by the author, Darcy Graves in exchange for an honest review. All comments (except the quoted synopsis--in italics) are my own and I have received no payment of any kind.

The Man Who Didn't Fly

 The Man Who Didn't Fly (1955) by Margot Bennett

Four men--Joseph Ferguson, Maurice Reid, Harry Walters, and Morgan Price--decide to book a private plane for Dublin. They all claim to have business in Ireland and plan to come back to their family and friends at home. But those who saw the plane start its westward journey across England tell of a fireball that plunged into the Irish Sea. But when an investigation is mounted, the police find that only three of the men joined the pilot in that disastrous journey. The difficulty is finding out which man didn't fly. No one who saw the men--from the bus driver who took passengers to the airport to the barman at the small airport to the men who helped get the plane ready can swear to which men were actually there. There were too many other people milling about and there was no reason to take special notice of any of them. The only things the detectives assigned to the case have to go on is a half-heard conversation that mentions Australia...or maybe South Africa and the fact that at least one of the men might have smoked and might have had a silver cigarette case.

It is odd that the man who didn't fly doesn't come forward. Did he somehow arrange for the plane to go down? If so, how? And why? The investigation comes to center on the family left behind--listening to their version of what happened in the days leading up to the plane's take-off. Other clues crop up in the conversations and eventually the police are able to fit all the pieces of the jigsaw together.

I have to say that I'm not finding the revival of Margot Bennett stories to be very satisfying. I wasn't nearly as impressed with her The Widow of Bath as some of my Golden Age Mystery friends (see linked review) and The Man Who Didn't Fly was just as disappointing. This time around the characters are not nearly as well-drawn (though they are just as un-engaging). I had a hard time keeping all the men straight (Was "Uncle Joe" the one who might have been in the plane or was it Hester's father?). And, speaking of Hester--she may not be "bitter, dreary, and cruel" as I have described the heroine of Bath, but she's definitely not one of the shining lights of GAD leading ladies. Her relationship, such as it is, with Harry is not at all believable. Why on earth both she and her step-mother (?--I'm not really sure about the relationships of all the women in the case either) are both attracted to him is a mystery to me. And the rest of the women are just as unimpressive. Added to the lack of interesting characters is a lack of interesting detection. We've taken what could have been a very engaging mystery (the premise really hooked me when I purchased this copy) and dragged it out through an endless parade of "here's what happened--in excrutiating detail--on the Monday before they all left" and "here's what happened on Tuesday"...rinse and repeat for each day leading up to the plane crash. Even breaking up the recollections with other bits of investigation didn't help me. By time things picked up and we were finally getting some action and interesting discoveries I was too numb to even care. ★★

But--my friend Kate over at Cross Examining Crime gave this a glowing review--so your mileage may vary.

First line: At eleven in the morning the aeroplane began its westward flight across England; shining like snow under is blue sky; losing its glitter in the thick white clouds; passing, heard but unseen, over the Welsh hills.

"Would you be willing to say that one of them wore a hat?"
"No. and I'll tell you why. Because I didn't see. and, if I did see, I didn't remember. And if I didn't remember, it was because I was thinking of something else. And, if I was thinking of something else, it was the three thirty at Lingfield. And if I was thinking of the three thirty at Lingfield, there's no law against it." (Police detective, Mr. Crewe; p.4)

He is a poet in words. That is now of no importance. I am a poet of money. Words! We have too many words. Word poets talk all the time of love and death. People fall in love and they die and no amount of poetic advice has ever helped them to do either of those things more successfully." (Joe Ferguson; p. 55)

"Let me try curling my lip. Do you suppose when people curl their lips it's convex or concave?" She went to the glass over the mantlepiece. "It looks queer both ways. If I curl it up towards my nose it is worse, don't you think? People in those books must look odd most of the time." (Prudence Wade; p. 116)

Last line: She kissed him and there was nothing left of Harry, except a small handful of poems for the anthologies.
*****************

Deaths = 5 (four airplane crash; one shot)

June Reading By the Numbers Reviews

 

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June Vintage Scavenger Hunt Review

 

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