Cozying up with some mysteries...

Button Holed by Kylie Logan (Connie Laux, Casey Daniels, Miranda Bliss, Connie Lane, Connie Deka) (Button Box Mystery, Bk 1) (library copy) -

I have to admit I found Josie's button obsession kinda weird (which is really saying something).  But overall, I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to trying the next in the series, Hot Button.

Liver Let Die by Liz Lipperman (Clueless Cook, Bk 1) (library copy) -

I connected with Jordan McAllister, Clueless Cook, in a couple ways: She starts with what she can find in the field she's interested in even when it's the bottom, then moves up to something better but still not quite there.  I started as a page and have moved up to clerk, but still haven't reached librarian level.  The other area of commonality is the not into cooking part.  I look forward to reading more of Jordan's adventures.

Shoulder Bags and Shootings
and
Clutches and Curses

by Dorothy Howell (Haley Randolph, Bk 3 and 4) (library copies) -

Haley Randolph baffles me.  Her work ethic is so ... nonexistent, which I absolutely can't understand (Not that I'm like co-worker Christy in Shoulder Bags and Shootings.  I would probably find that as obnoxious and annoying as Haley did).  Nor do I understand the lack of concern over the debt she has built up (I have student loans to pay and I can't stand them).

All that on top of not understanding her shopping addiction (I HATE shopping)... and yet I still enjoy these books.  I look forward to book 5 in the series, Tote Bags and Toe Tags.  I also need to look into the ebook short "Slay Bells and Satchels" ... I think I may already have it.  Otherwise I'll need to look into buying it **grumbles**.

After mentioning in my post about The Roman Hat by Ellery Queen that I might watch the Ellery Queen Mysteries DVD, I recieved some encouragement to move forward with this idea. I haven't gotten very far yet, but I have started. The main thing I'm noticing now has more to do with the actors than the story. Ellery Queen is played by Jim Hutton. I love the show Leverage which stars (among others) Timothy Hutton, Jim Hutton's son. As I watch Jim Hutton act I keep seeing these expressions I'm used to seeing in his son, and it's cracking me up. Anyway, more on my impressions later, as I get further into the show...

The Roman Hat Mystery: A Problem in Deduction

Title: The Roman Hat Mystery: A Problem in Deduction
Author: Ellery Queen (cousins Manford Bennington Lee and Frederic Dannay)
Publisher: International Readers League
Copyright Date: 1930 (Some places say 1929, but the library copy I read said 1930)
Pages: 325

So this was my second Vintage Mystery... It was slow going, not because it wasn't interesting, but because I just seem to be a slow reader when it comes to vintage writing. The story is interesting. A murder takes place in the Roman Theater (in New York) and Inspector Queen (and his son Ellery) work toward solving it. The subheading - a Problem in Deduction - is a huge part of this writing. Every detail is hashed and rehashed. Any additional discoveries or deductions must be carefully explained whether between themselves while trying to move forward with the investigation or to some other involved and interested party. I have to say I didn't care for all the references to Djuna, the Queens servant, being like a monkey.

Would I read another book in this series? Perhaps. I certainly want to try the TV show.