In this entertaining romantic suspense novel, podcaster Amelia Rivers comes from a family with paranormal talent in its genes. As it happens, so does In this entertaining romantic suspense novel, podcaster Amelia Rivers comes from a family with paranormal talent in its genes. As it happens, so does the family of Gideon Sweetwater, the P.I. she hires when she is being stalked. The story zips right along....more
Matt Milles-Lade and Margo Melon showed up at the possible rental house at the same time and, when the landlady said she'd always hoped to rent to a yMatt Milles-Lade and Margo Melon showed up at the possible rental house at the same time and, when the landlady said she'd always hoped to rent to a young couple like them, went along with the mistake. From there, the deception ballooned, with life-changing consequences....more
This is not a traditional guidebook, but rather a collection of essays, memoirs, anecdotes, poems, and phot essays that tell many different things aboThis is not a traditional guidebook, but rather a collection of essays, memoirs, anecdotes, poems, and phot essays that tell many different things about 34 of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. I was quite interested in the contributors' takes on areas like Andersonville, Wicker Park, and Logan Suare, which are a little familiar to me. However, I was absolutely fascinated by some of the information about areas totally unfamiliar to me, like Edgewater Glen and Rezkoville....more
This is the exciting true story of archaeological expeditions culminating in stunning discoveries. However, after the adventure comes a medical mysterThis is the exciting true story of archaeological expeditions culminating in stunning discoveries. However, after the adventure comes a medical mystery which devolves into an eerie forewarning of a global pandemic (and not the one we got). The discoveries were made in Honduras in 2012-2016. The book was published in 2017, well before the Covid 19 pandemic. Highly recommended!...more
Yukon gold becomes a plot element in this series-starter that is really an offshoot of Armstrong's excellent Rockton series. Detective Casey Duncan anYukon gold becomes a plot element in this series-starter that is really an offshoot of Armstrong's excellent Rockton series. Detective Casey Duncan and her husband, Sheriff Eric Dalton, are called early to the town of refuge they are having built in the Yukon because two members of the construction crew have gone missing. The body of a murder victim they find in the woods turns out to be neither of the people for whom they are searching....more
A laugh-out-loud funny take on scammers in Florida after a massive hurricane (Andrew?) Most of the quirky characters have such underlying charm and huA laugh-out-loud funny take on scammers in Florida after a massive hurricane (Andrew?) Most of the quirky characters have such underlying charm and humanity that their oddities become endearing. I was relieved that monkeys made only limited appearances....more
An actress comes home to find her Federal judge husband and two young sons shot to death, with the judge presumed to have been the main target. When lAn actress comes home to find her Federal judge husband and two young sons shot to death, with the judge presumed to have been the main target. When local p[olice and the FBI make no headway on the case, U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and BCA investigator Virgil Flowers are called in to look for answers. Excitement and suspense are leavened with comic banter....more
Frank and touching. He had not just a "year of magical thinking" but almost a decade of believing that his mother, Princess Diana, might be alive and Frank and touching. He had not just a "year of magical thinking" but almost a decade of believing that his mother, Princess Diana, might be alive and in hiding from the paparazzi who caused her car crash. He also suffered from PTSD after his service in Afghanistan. His father and brother and especially their staffs behaved rather poorly....more
It was fun to catch up with Kate Shugak, even though several of the older series (minor) characters were killed off by the pandemic. A mid-air collisiIt was fun to catch up with Kate Shugak, even though several of the older series (minor) characters were killed off by the pandemic. A mid-air collision of two planes, an influx of "Christofaschists," and the sudden prominence of drones all provide reasons for private investigation. It was amusing to see Kate maneuvered into becoming one of the "Aunties" who control Niniltna life. ...more
An English mother took her five children to France, to a country hotel on the Marne, but sepsis from an insect bite hospitalizes her. Mr. Eliot, an EnAn English mother took her five children to France, to a country hotel on the Marne, but sepsis from an insect bite hospitalizes her. Mr. Eliot, an Englishman at the hotel becomes their self-appointed guardian, but it turns out that he is kind but not good....more
Meg Langslow goes in her first ever cruise, along with much of her extended family, and it turns out to be quite an ordeal -- and not just because of Meg Langslow goes in her first ever cruise, along with much of her extended family, and it turns out to be quite an ordeal -- and not just because of several missing persons and at least one murder. The book is funny, clever, and engaging, but likely to be unpopular with cruise marketers....more
This is the charming tory of two Chicago sixth-graders, Ruthie and Jack, who find a magic key that allows them to shrink down to five inches tall so tThis is the charming tory of two Chicago sixth-graders, Ruthie and Jack, who find a magic key that allows them to shrink down to five inches tall so that they can explore the Thorne Rooms in the basement of the Art Institute of Chicago. It made me want to go see them again....more
I loved this book. It is not a mystery, in the traditional sense, although there is certainly a secret to be uncovered. Clay Jannon lose his design joI loved this book. It is not a mystery, in the traditional sense, although there is certainly a secret to be uncovered. Clay Jannon lose his design job in a recession and ends up working the overnight shift at an unusual San Francisco bookshop that caters mostly to members of a secret society trying to decode an ancient book. The print-computer interface is explored. ...more
This contains the edited diaries from June 13, 1993, until a final entry Dec. 12, 2015, before Alan Rickman's death from pancreatic cancer on Jan. 14,This contains the edited diaries from June 13, 1993, until a final entry Dec. 12, 2015, before Alan Rickman's death from pancreatic cancer on Jan. 14, 2016. He traveled mind-bogglingly extensively for business and pleasure and knew so many people in the theatre/show business world, as well as music, literature, and politics. Quite fascinating!...more
This consists of 5 stories (the last actually a 150-page novella) set between June 13, 1969, and January 8, 1990, about 21-year-old Kurt Wallender as This consists of 5 stories (the last actually a 150-page novella) set between June 13, 1969, and January 8, 1990, about 21-year-old Kurt Wallender as a Malmo" patrolman through several decades until he is a recently divorced, 40ish head of detectives in Ystad, Sweden. At first, I rather disliked the book, but I raised it to about 2.7 GoodReads stars by the end....more
This purports to be a new series, "A Lew Ferris Mystery," in hardback, but is really an extension of the Loon Lake paperback mystery series, 19 usuallThis purports to be a new series, "A Lew Ferris Mystery," in hardback, but is really an extension of the Loon Lake paperback mystery series, 19 usually quite good stories featuring fly-fishing. In this episode, police chief Lewellyn Ferris's older brother Peter is murdered while she is running for sheriff....more
This is an amazing feminist novel, laugh-out-loud funny in spots, but the tragedy within it almost made me stop reading, had I not needed it for a proThis is an amazing feminist novel, laugh-out-loud funny in spots, but the tragedy within it almost made me stop reading, had I not needed it for a prompt in a GoodReads challenge. Set in the '50s and '60s in California, it is about a woman chemist battling the sexist views of that era. Great dog character!...more
I liked this, but I didn't love it. The mystery was on the tame side. The historical ambience, with "Ma Perkins" on the radio and party-line telephoneI liked this, but I didn't love it. The mystery was on the tame side. The historical ambience, with "Ma Perkins" on the radio and party-line telephones and aprons made from flour sacks, was of more interest, bringing echoes of my childhood, though decades later than 1934....more
Within the context of a police procedural mystery featuring ADCS Thomas Lynley, the author also educates us about the problem of FGM (female genital mWithin the context of a police procedural mystery featuring ADCS Thomas Lynley, the author also educates us about the problem of FGM (female genital mutilation), in this case, among the Nigerian and Somali immigrant communities in London....more
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