25 years ago, on a hot summer night, Tim Bell drove to a secluded spot with talented young musician Dinah Taylor after their date at the village fair.25 years ago, on a hot summer night, Tim Bell drove to a secluded spot with talented young musician Dinah Taylor after their date at the village fair. But Dinah was never seen again, and Bell was sent to prison for her murder. Now out of prison, Bell has returned to Cherringham and his life is in danger from those who feel that justice hasn't really been served. But Jack and Sarah have reason to think Bell may not have been guilty and they decide to try to find out for sure.
I love the Cherringham series of short, cozy mysteries, and enjoy the developing relationship between Jack and Sarah. I liked this story and, if the end seemed a little bit rushed, it did have a bit of a twist. I’m not sure it was as well-developed or believable as many of the earlier stories in this series. But I liked it. I always enjoy the audio versions of these mysteries, expertly narrated by Neil Dudgeon. Mainly I listen while walking on the treadmill or lying in bed. I’d love to find more books narrated by Dudgeon. Looks like it’s mostly the Cherringham series, but also a few BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramas.
This is #39 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025. ...more
Sigrid Nunez Is the recipient of many honors and awards and this particular book, The Friend, won the national book award in 2018.
(Nunez does not use Sigrid Nunez Is the recipient of many honors and awards and this particular book, The Friend, won the national book award in 2018.
(Nunez does not use a tilde over the second n in her last name, but it’s pronounced as if one is there: NOON-Yez or NOON-Yeth.)
The book is about death, grief, friendship, art, memory, and love. What’s not to like? I liked parts of it quite well. But at other times, I felt bored or even put off by the subject matter. Some of it is a bit cringey. And the deceased friend is not exactly admirable.
The unnamed main character unexpectedly loses her best friend and mentor (with whom she was more than a little in love) to suicide. and accepts the care of his very large Great Dane. The dog seems to be traumatized, too, by his owners disappearance. The dog and the woman must share a 500 square-foot rent-controlled apartment. The dog seems to symbolize the friendship and/or love, and the woman refuses to be separated from the dog for more than brief periods of time. This is not a straightforward narrative, but rather a pastiche of vignettes, digressions, and anecdotes with numerous allusions to literature, writers, and philosophical ideas about writing, life, and death.Â
Again, there was much that I liked, but it didn’t hold my interest as much as I’d expected and wished. I’m curious about the movie, though. Naomi Watts plays the main character. I think I’d like to see that.
This is #38 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025. ...more
This is number 11 in a series of 48 (!) short cozy mysteries by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. I always enjoy the characters, ex-NYPD-cop Jack anThis is number 11 in a series of 48 (!) short cozy mysteries by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. I always enjoy the characters, ex-NYPD-cop Jack and single-mom Sarah (the amateur sleuths), in these books and love the narration by Neil Dudgeon. I wasn’t as engaged by the plot of this one as I was by those of earlier books in the series. In this one, the village of Cherringham prepares for an annual regatta on the Thames, but vandalism of boats and a missing (wealthy) executive suggest to Jack and Sarah that it’s beginning to look like someone’s been murdered. . . . But I’ll be there for #12!
This is #35 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025. ...more
I was going to DNF this one, but decided to finish it (sort of rationalizing that finishing it would mean I hadn't wasted my time, which now seems likI was going to DNF this one, but decided to finish it (sort of rationalizing that finishing it would mean I hadn't wasted my time, which now seems like a lousy reason).
I'm giving this one points for combining elements of classic crime fiction with dark humor and for its quirky narrative style, with our main character and "hero" (and chief sleuth) Ernie frequently speaking directly to the reader, explaining relationships, the characters' backstories, etc. Many readers will find this very entertaining and a fresh take on the traditional whodunit.
But personally, I didn't care for the style and not much for the plot, either.
The first chapter was really engaging and suspenseful (and even a little funny). But the more I read after that, the more I seemed to lose my grip � and my interest � in the plot, which seemed overly complicated, hard to follow. Plus, I just wasn't keen on the jokey narrative style. It felt to me that the author (through the narrator, Ernie) was trying too hard for humor, whereas the plot and events were truly macabre. Nothing funny about any of it.
This is #36 of the 100 books I aim to read this year....more
I started reading (audio) this series of Cherringham cozy mysteries last year and just love them. This one is the 10th in a 48--book series by MatthewI started reading (audio) this series of Cherringham cozy mysteries last year and just love them. This one is the 10th in a 48--book series by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. I especially like the narration by Neil Dudgeon!! The series is set in the fictional Cotswolds town of Cherringham, not far from Cheltenham, and featuring two amateur sleuths, Sarah, a single mother of two who works in advertising and Jack, a former NYPD homicide detective.
This is a cozy, old-school style murder mystery � no supernatural stuff and no horror. All of which I really like. In this installment, Sarah and Jack investigate the suspicious death of one Father Byrne. We gradually learn about Father Byrne’s secrets, his life outside of his pastoral role. Someone, it seems, wanted him dead. But why? I like the fast pace of these short books, which don’t contain a lot of background or filler, but do give us insight into the lives of Jack and Sarah and their developing relationship. I love the dialogue in these books! And it’s so well done in audio.
This is #34 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025. ...more
This is Karen Thompson Walker’s third novel, and I’ve read all three in rapid succession. At first, I thought it was less like a novel than a psychiatThis is Karen Thompson Walker’s third novel, and I’ve read all three in rapid succession. At first, I thought it was less like a novel than a psychiatrist’s patient notes, almost a documentary. But it is a novel and a wonderfully inventive one with numerous twists and developments � with which I insisted on regaling my husband as the story progressed. (I knew he wasn’t likely to read it or I’d have avoided spoilers.) The sections alternate between the notes and observations of psychiatrist Henry Byrd and the letters and thoughts of his patient, Jane O, who suffers from episodes of dissociative fugue � periods of time for which she would have almost no memory. She also had episodes of what she came to believe were hallucinations. But most baffling is that she knew things that she couldn’t possibly have known or made up.
The book has been called a thriller and speculative fiction, but I think it’s a mistake to assign a genre label, though it contains elements of those forms. This is literary fiction at its finest, a compelling story that explores the depths and mysteries of the human psyche, weaving in much of what’s known (and unknown) from such fields as history, physics, and psychiatry, along with Dr. Byrd’s musings about them.
While he wouldn’t admit to believing in supernatural events, Byrd nevertheless is open-minded. He seeks some way of understanding Jane’s case from a scientific point of view, recognizing that many areas of subjective experience cannot be explained, or indeed have not been adequately addressed by science. For instance, Byrd says, “It takes no courage to dismiss the unlikely. But some fields of science are composed almost entirely of the seemingly unbelievable. Take the concept in astrophysics of dark energy. Even more mysterious than dark matter and far outside my own field of knowledge, of course, but appealing to me because of the way it honors the fact that we do not yet understand all there is to understand.�
I listened to the audio editions of all three of Walker’s novels and loved the narrators in her first two books. In this one, I didn’t really care for the female narration of Jane’s side of the story. Especially in the first few chapters, the narrator’s voice seemed to vary greatly in volume in a way that didn’t seem necessary or consistent with the content. I kept turning the volume up and down, which was annoying. I did male narrator’s rendition of Dr. Byrd, the psychiatrist. The tone of his voice seemed a good match for Byrd’s portrayal as rather formal, careful, and professional at all times.
A fascinating tale. Jane’s case might remind you of the bizarre tales recounted by Oliver Sacks in The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, a book that inspired the author and kindled her “pleasure in being reminded that we don’t yet know all there is to know about the universe.� I highly recommend all three of her novels.
This is #33 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025....more
I don’t like creepy stories, really I don’t. But here I am, having read another novella by Christian White and Summer De Roche. I guess I just feel a I don’t like creepy stories, really I don’t. But here I am, having read another novella by Christian White and Summer De Roche. I guess I just feel a need for escape these days. But like the previous novella by this pair, the book kept me awake when I should have been sleeping. Of course, we know from the moment Jackie answers the phone that it can only lead to trouble. Bad trouble. . . . The tension and dread build with rapidly increasing speed until. . . . And here, I must leave you hanging. Maybe I need to get back to cozy mysteries (like the Cherringham series by Costello and Richards). No matter the crimes, they are almost comforting.
The narration by Sibylla Budd is great. I just love an Aussie accent!
This is #29 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025....more
I don’t really like horror and usually avoid it. But I decided to try this book since it was an Audible Original (which was free with my membership). I don’t really like horror and usually avoid it. But I decided to try this book since it was an Audible Original (which was free with my membership). I was quickly drawn into the story. Mostly, I was curious about whether the weird happenings were supernatural events or would eventually be shown to arise from natural causes. I also was intrigued by the broken (but possibly mendable) relationship between the main characters � husband and wife, Dave and Lisa. The many twists and turns in the story kept me interested � so involved that I had to give it a rest when I was listening late at night � afraid that I’d never go to sleep. I finished it in the morning when it didn’t seem quite so creepy. Okay, I liked it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it today. I’m going to try another one by this Australian duo (Christian White and his wife, Summer DeRoche).
I also liked the narration by Luke Arnold and Sibylla Budd.
This is #28 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025. ...more
I’ve never read anything by Samantha Downing, though she has written several best-selling thrillers. Charmed by the title, I decided to try this novelI’ve never read anything by Samantha Downing, though she has written several best-selling thrillers. Charmed by the title, I decided to try this novella about a dog walker swept into a criminal investigation when her client winds up dead. I really liked it and wish it had been longer. But the length was probably just right for this story. It certainly kept me reading (listening) and the ending, when it dawned on me � just short of its being spelled out � made me smile. The big reveal is pretty funny. I also enjoyed the narration by Lindsey Dorcus, who is quite accomplished as an audiobook narrator and voice actor. I’m now looking forward to one of Downing’s novels, which I have on hold. Thoroughly entertaining.
I got this audiobook through the Audible Plus catalog, which offers to members quite an assortment of freebies, of which I try to take advantage.
This is #27 of the 100 books I aim to read in 2025. ...more
I loved the first book in this series, “Killers of a Certain Age,� which I found fresh, well written, and so much fun to read. The characters, four smI loved the first book in this series, “Killers of a Certain Age,� which I found fresh, well written, and so much fun to read. The characters, four smart, tough, witty women of a certain age, were professional assassins who had reached retirement age. I was so excited to learn about this sequel, featuring the same four women, recalled from retirement. I liked the book okay, but it just didn’t grab me the way the first one did. I didn’t find it LOL-funny either, as many readers have. I didn’t feel the characters were as well developed, distinguished, and interesting as in the first book.
Also, I found that I tired of the graphic murders and hand-to-hand combat, even when inflicted by the good guys (or in this case, gals). I guess it’s just me and most lovers of the thriller genre won’t have a problem with that. Moral issues abound and we are given to understand that these assassins are “necessary monsters,� improving society by eliminating bad actors. Okaaaay, I guess so � but moral questions remain. Are we really okay with that? Since this is fiction, i don’t feel compelled to wrestle with the question or to judge these characters. One thing I particularly liked were the subtle comparisons to today’s world (the U.S. in particular, in spring, 2025). Says Helen “People look beyond red flags waving right in front of their faces because they want something so desperately that they will explain away anything that might endanger that."
Raybourn’s a good writer, for sure. All in all, this is a solid thriller with a very twisty and complex plot. I admire Raybourn for having written both of these books, even if the second one let me down just a little. ...more
Excellent writing in a thriller that keeps you guessing, and maybe breathless, most of the time. But I was very uncomfortable with the theme of vengeaExcellent writing in a thriller that keeps you guessing, and maybe breathless, most of the time. But I was very uncomfortable with the theme of vengeance and the actions of a character I’d previously come to admire. I know that most thriller lovers will love this one (it gets mostly 4- and 5-star reviews). But this is a very dark book. The title tells you where it’s going. If you’re squeamish about revenge stories and about brutality � the raw and gritty and gruesome � you might want to skip this one. But do read other reviews first.
I really only liked and connected with one character in the book (Niki). The rest of the characters were troubling to distasteful and sometimes seemed like caricatures. The chapters set on the frozen lake were too numerous and too drawn out. I felt bombarded also by the excessive recollections of Jenni and how her death must be avenged. I needed to skim at times (not so easy with an audiobook) and I’m left uncertain about whether I’ll read another book in this series. I’ll check reviews first! I do like Eskens’s writing and would like to read more about the character Joe Talbert who, I know, will make appearances in later books....more
This is the third in the Max Rupert detective series by Allen Eskens. It’s a twisty one, for sure, all the way. The writing is straightforward, largelThis is the third in the Max Rupert detective series by Allen Eskens. It’s a twisty one, for sure, all the way. The writing is straightforward, largely unadorned (though I noted plenty of similes). Some readers like that and some don’t. I listened to the audiobook and have no complaints. I was happy that the story kept moving right along. The book’s title comes from a Latin legal maxim that translates as “Let justice be done, though the heavens may fall.�
Allen Eskens was criminal defense attorney for 20 years, and many of his novels, this one among them, include plenty of police procedural and courtroom drama. But Eskens is also interested in developing complex characters and the relationships between them. The Heavens May Fall features two attorneys, both good men with strong convictions � Max Rupert, the prosecutor, who believes the defendant is guilty and Boady Sanden, the defense attorney, who believes absolutely that the defendant is innocent. One big conflict here, besides the obvious, is that Max and Boady have been lifelong friends. The stress on their friendship adds a layer of tension to an already complicated legal thriller. And both of these men wrestle with demons from their past. So, yes, a lot of layers here.
Eskens has said: “I conceived the plot for The Heavens May Fall like a Schrodinger’s-cat problem—the idea that something can exist in two opposing states at the same time (i.e., be both alive and dead). For a mystery novel, it’s the idea that a person can be both guilty and innocent at the same time. To meet this challenge, I wanted the two opposing perspectives through which the reader would experience the novel: one perspective believing that the accused is guilty, the other believing the accused to be innocent. So the two perspectives were integral to the story from the very beginning.� (2016 interview at criminalelement.com)
The more I think about this, the more I like the book....more
I’d never heard of Allen Eskens until this book was mentioned on the wonderful Book Bumble podcast (Season 3, Episode 19 � Mysterious Mysteries).
I reI’d never heard of Allen Eskens until this book was mentioned on the wonderful Book Bumble podcast (Season 3, Episode 19 � Mysterious Mysteries).
I really enjoyed this one, the first in a series that includes books featuring characters Joe Talbert, Max Rupert, or both. I’ve been advised to read all of Eskens’s books in order (except for two stand-alone novels). The story and the characters are both completely absorbing. If some of the plot was implausible, and if events were sometimes predictable, I didn’t care one bit. I loved spending time with Joe and his friend Lila, as well as Joe’s autistic brother, Jeremy.
The title is a signpost to the book’s themes. The story includes an awful lot of personal problems and back stories � physical, emotional, and psychic burdens. Maybe too much for one novel to accommodate? Could be, but the story sure kept me on the edge of my seat. (And kept me awake too much of the night. Bad idea to listen to such a great audiobook when you should be sleeping.)
I especially liked, and took to heart, a statement made by the convict, Carl Iverson, who spent 30 years in prison. He begins by reflecting on “Pascal’s wager� regarding belief in God � that is, if you believe and there turns out to be no God, you don’t lose anything. But if you don’t believe, and there is one, you’re in big trouble. (To even ponder this seriously, one has to put aside the fact that, if there’s a God, you’re not going to fool him by pretending to believe. I mean, it doesn't seem like something you can just decide to do or not.) But Iverson turns Pascal’s wager around by figuring that, if there’s no afterlife, then whatever heaven we’ll ever know is now, here on earth. In that case, it’s up to us (and a good way to live) to find value, meaning, and fulfillment in our present lives no matter what the circumstances. And Carl’s circumstances have been, and remain, pretty grim.
This was Eskens’s debut novel, and there are eight more (so far).
A note on the audiobook: The narration, by Zach Villa, is absolutely wonderful.
This is the second book in the Detective Max Rupert series by Allen Eskens. Though Max played a role, he was not a main character in Eskens’s previousThis is the second book in the Detective Max Rupert series by Allen Eskens. Though Max played a role, he was not a main character in Eskens’s previous novel, The Life We Bury. And this, the second in the series, doesn’t feature Max prominently. The main character is Max’s younger brother, Alexander, who is also a detective. And Alex is in a whole lot of trouble.
This is a fast-paced and twisty thriller, though I wasn’t as invested in these characters as those in Eskens’s first book, The Life We Bury, which I read immediately before this one. I guessed some of the twists ahead of time, though that didn’t bother me. I just congratulated myself on being so smart. Ha ha.
Another reviewer commented that, “This book lacks the heart and soul that connects a reader to the characters.� When I read that, I nodded in agreement. It’s a well-crafted thriller, but I wasn’t truly engaged. I still do like Eskens’s writing and will read the next in the series, for sure.
This is #22 of the 100 books I aim to read this year. ...more
After reading four of Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike detective novels in a row, I felt that I was ready for a cozy mystery! This one is billed as After reading four of Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike detective novels in a row, I felt that I was ready for a cozy mystery! This one is billed as a cozy historical mystery and is the first in a series of 18 (so far) novellas by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. Costello and Richards are also the authors of the Cherringham Cozy Crime novels (or novellas), of which there are 48 so far. I’ve read nine of those and really like them a lot. They’re not twisty or terrifying or gruesome. No horror. No supernatural elements. And nothing too deep. But I enjoy the writing, the dialogue, the humor, the Shakespearean references, and most of all the characters of the two amateur sleuths. So I figured I’d like the Mydworth Mysteries, too.
Now, granted, I’ve only listened to this one, but it didn’t grab me. I might warm to the characters in time, as I get to know them better, but so far Harry and his new wife Kat, the amateur sleuths in this one, are a little too one-dimensional. A good-looking, smart, amiable couple. The mystery part didn’t really engage me. Many readers have complained about the mangled sentence structure, noting that all the characters talk in the same way and that it’s distracting. Perhaps because I was listening, I didn’t notice that so much. And though the narration was pretty good, I like the narrator of the Cherringham series better. I bought a compilation of the first three books in the Mydworth series, so I’ll probably read at least two more. ...more
I’m definitely one who loves a modern take on an ancient myth and I like nothing better than retellings of the Iliad. But I have very mixed feelings aI’m definitely one who loves a modern take on an ancient myth and I like nothing better than retellings of the Iliad. But I have very mixed feelings about this one. In general, the writing is good, if fairly straightforward. Attempts at lyricism can result in questionable phrasing � e.g., Dread coats my insides in ice.� I really like the three main female characters who serve as narrators, providing their perspectives on part of the Trojan War. And the audio version is very well done by four distinct narrators.
But darn, this is a very long book and it drags. I was so tired of reading it by the time I reached the end. And it ends rather abruptly with many unanswered questions � for instance, who’s dead, who’s still there, who has just kind of disappeared? We’ve not reached the end of the Trojan War and things just seem be left up in the air. I know that there’s a sequel, but feel that this book should be able to stand alone � or at least provide a satisfying ending.
This book is not, in my view, historical fiction, but rather a complete re-imagining. For one thing, we’re talking about myth, not history. But this narrative does not follow the story of the Trojan War that we have come to know it from Homer. I understand that any fictional retelling by definition will involve fictional elements, motives, conversations, etc. But this one wanders far from the myth and introduces some very implausible events.
The sequel, Daughters of Bronze, is almost as long as Horses of Fire. I’m not very motivated to read it. Maybe next year.
As for retellings of the Iliad from the women’s perspective, I far preferred Natalie Haynes’s A Thousand Ships and two novels by Pat Barker: The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy. ...more
Can’t get enough of these Cherringham mysteries by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. (Lucky for me, there are still another 39 of them to read!) I eCan’t get enough of these Cherringham mysteries by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. (Lucky for me, there are still another 39 of them to read!) I especially like the narration by Neil Dudgeon. Great job!
The ninth /Cherringham story is a good twist on the murder mystery � because there’s no murder � just almost one. The local drama society is holding rehearsals for a play called “The Purloined Pearl.� It seems that someone is trying to sabotage the production. Several accidents happen, but are they really accidents? Panic and chaos ensue, but Jack and Sarah are on the scene and suspect that something sinister is afoot behind the scenes. But my favorite part is the gently developing relationship between Sarah and Jack. There’s an age difference, but I keep hoping they’ll recognize that they’re true soul mates. We’ll see....more
Sarah and Jack are back investigating the poor conditions and possibly dangerous practices at Broadmead Grange (a nursing home or maybe retirement homSarah and Jack are back investigating the poor conditions and possibly dangerous practices at Broadmead Grange (a nursing home or maybe retirement home or assisted living facility � not sure) after one of its residents is found frozen to death in the snow after wandering away from the home. Is that the whole story or was foul play involved. Trust Sarah and Jack to find out.
It’s one of the worst blizzards on record in Cherringham, and the snow just keeps coming. Makes you want to curl up under a blanket with a cup of tea and a good book, like this one. I’m becoming a big fan of cozy mysteries, since I don’t want to read anything too gory or too suspenseful these days. ...more
Late last year, I started reading the Cherringham stories, a cosy crime series by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards (very enjoyably read by Neil DudgLate last year, I started reading the Cherringham stories, a cosy crime series by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards (very enjoyably read by Neil Dudgeon!) These are short and lively, quick reads without gory details, supernatural elements, or horror. I really like the writing, the lead characters, amateur sleuths Sarah and Jake, the humor (often tongue-in-cheek), and the excellent narration. I intend to read another three of these mysteries in January, starting with #7 in the series of 47.
Don’t you just love how, every time a story is set in an English village, it’s called a “sleepy� English village? Well, I’d have to say, the fictional town of Cherringham is anything but sleepy.
In Book #7, the Cherringham parish council is celebrating the planned “twinning� of Cherringham and a sister village in France with an elaborate reception and dinner at the manor house of Lady Repton, whose nephew is instrumental in the plan. The wine flows freely and the French mayor Laurent Bourdain disappears from the festivities, only to be found dead in the water � floating in the lake on the manor house’s grounds. Was it an accident? What cosy mystery reader would ever believe such a thing?
It’s interesting that this is the second book I’ve read, one right after the other, that concerned a structure on an island in the middle of a lake on the property of a large manor house. In “The Last Act of Juliette Willoughby,� the only structure on the island was a pyramidal mausoleum. In this Cherringham mystery, the structure is a Greek temple of sorts.
These books are perfect for holding my attention while walking on the treadmill, my preferred form of exercise in the Vermont winter....more
I’ve read the Iliad (a long time ago) and have listened to Emily Wilson’s translation. And I’ve especially enjoyed modern retellings of the Trojan WarI’ve read the Iliad (a long time ago) and have listened to Emily Wilson’s translation. And I’ve especially enjoyed modern retellings of the Trojan War through the eyes of the women who sustained terrible losses (of loved ones, of their own freedom) � books by Natalie Haynes and Pat Barker, in particular. But I recently enjoyed Stephen Fry’s book about Troy. Not really a novel and certainly not nonfiction. I guess it’s more like a long story with lots of authorial commentary along the way. The audio is an absolute delight, due in no small part to Fry’s ability to tell a good story, his advice and concern for his readers, and his humor. I’m sure the audio must be the best way to appreciate Fry’s narrative. (“No, Paris was not a good boy.�)
If you don’t know him, Stephen John Fry is an English comedian, writer, actor, humorist, novelist, poet, columnist, filmmaker, television personality and technophile.
I’m now just starting A. D. Rhine’s “Horses of Fire� (a novel about Troy, especially the women, I think) and expect to continue with its sequel, “Daughters of Bronze." ...more
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