Ghost Talkers

Title: Ghost Talkers

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal

ISBN: 9780765378255

Length: 299 + "Acknowledgements" and "Historical Note"

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I recently (a month or so ago) finished Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist Histories.  I needed to read more of her work so I requested Ghost Talkers.

Mediums talk to all of Britain's forces as they pass and before they move on as a means of gathering intelligence.  This has the added benefit of  allowing the soldiers to take care of unfinished business and pass on final words to loved ones.

The fantasy aspect was great. The mystery aspect was intriguing.  The romance aspect is rather sad.  The altered historical aspect is interesting.

Garrett Takes the Case: Old Tin Sorrows, Dread Brass Shadows, Red Iron Nights

Title: Garrett Takes the Case: Old Tin Sorrows, Dread Brass Shadows, Red Iron Nights

Author: Glen Cook [Macmillan][isfdb][Goodreads]

Publisher: ROC

Series: Garrett, P.I., Bks 4-6

ISBN: 9780451464361

Length: 680 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I read the first three in the series, and I was interested in reading more.

Comments:

Garrett's world continues on it's grim path, with more magic and evil, mystery and intrigue along the way.

Individually...

Old Tin Sorrows

This is a ghost story.  Garrett has gone to a creepy mansion with secrets (of course) and danger (of course), and has been hired to keep the General from being assassinated.  But Garrett's developing more questions than answers (as usual).  In the meantime he keep seeing a mysterious woman.  (One thing about these books is Garrett's relationship with women.  I generally feel like I should be offended.  Mostly I just find myself shaking my head and muttering, "Again?!"  Anyway, Garrett has woman things going on amidst the rest, because apparently he is irresistible and can't help himself.).

Dread Brass Shadows

I'm coming at this months after reading and having trouble remembering enough to write impressions.  I've re-read a blurb, and I recall various events, but my thoughts and feelings of the time?  They escape me.

Red Iron Nights

Garrett is working with the police as they rebuild and try to catch a serial killer in this one.  I'm going to leave it at that since now these stories are beginning to blend together for me.

Her Fearful Symmetry

Title: Her Fearful Symmetry

Author: Audrey Niffenegger [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Scribner

ISBN: 9781439165393

Length: 401 pages

Obtained: Library book kit copy

Why this book?:

It was for my book discussion group.

Note: I read the print and ebook editions of this book. 

Comments:   

I didn't know what to expect from this book.  I knew The Time Traveler's Wife did not sound appealing.  But Audrey Niffenegger is also the author of The Night Bookmobile, which was a strange, but interesting read.

Apparently strange is a common theme of Niffenegger's work, because this one fits that description as well.  Twins live across an ocean - one in the U.S., one in England.  The one in the U.S. is raising twins of her own.  England twin dies and stipulates that young twins live in her flat in London to fulfill the terms of her will.  Sound confusing?  Or complicated?  It does have that feel.  

We have twins, secrets, cemeteries, ghosts, obsession.  Creepy, strange, and weird all have their place.  I don't want to give away to much of the story, so instead...

I tend to be more of an audible reader than a visual one.  I hear my books more than seeing them.  But this one had a definite picture.  Not to the words themselves, but the feel.  Imagine you're on a walk.  It isn't quite night, but it's no longer day.  It's foggy and gray and quiet.  You're approaching winter - no snow, but the trees are bare.  A fallen twig might snap, a flock of birds might startle, but otherwise everything is still.

That's kind of how I felt as I read the book.  Like I was taking that walk through the story.  

Anyway, I didn't like many of the choices made.  Some actions made me downright furious, in fact.  Some of the characters showed such little respect for life.  And so little thought for anyone outside of him/herself.  But the cemetery sounds cool, I'd love to visit.  And I'd love to have enough time in London to wander and get around without maps.  Hard to do when you've only been there little more than a day.  So the book left me with mixed feelings.  I enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere.  Not so much many of the characters.

Whether or not I'll read more by Niffenegger... we'll see how it goes.

Ghost Layer

Title: Ghost Layer

Author: Robin D. Owens [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Berkley Sensational Paranormal Romance

Series: Ghost Seer, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780425268919

Length: 291 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I requested the library purchase it as soon as I saw it was coming.  I enjoyed the first book in the series.  And Robin D. Owens is one of my favorite authors.

Comments:

I had forgotten quite a bit about the romance aspect of the first book, but I remembered Clare and her ghost dog Enzo, and the major ghost of Ghost Seer, Jack Slade.  It's kind of unfortunate that his ancestor had made more of a lasting impact than the hero, Zach Slade, did.  But I quickly remembered him as I read.  And I do like him (as well as Clare and Enzo).


This time Clare has been hired to take care of a ghost prospector who is leaving less than desirable presents in the bed of a multimillionaire's lady guests.  The multimillionaire in question is a jerk, but Clare needs to help her ghosts - for their sake and hers.  So she pushes on, despite not only the negative attitudes, but also the danger as someone obviously doesn't want her poking into history.  But what could anyone have against solving the murder of a ghost 100+ years dead?

I read this quickly (considering my distastefully slow reading schedule these days), and I look forward to seeing more of Clare, Zach, and Enzo in the 3rd book, Ghost Killer, due out in February.

Ghost Seer

Title: Ghost Seer

Author: Robin D. Owens [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Berkley Sensation Paranormal Romance

Series: Ghost Seer, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425268902

Length: 296 pages + "Author's Note and Acknowledgements"

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

As soon as I saw Robin D. Owens was putting another book out I requested the library purchase it.  This was just after I caught up with the Celta series.

Comments: 

 So this is a new series by Robin.  It is actually set in the western part of the U.S. (primarily Colorado) the entire time.  This is different than the two series I have read before - "Celta Heartmate" and "Llandra" (I haven't tried the "Enchanted" series yet).  The writing, the characters, the "voice" that all remains the same.  But I have to say I think the setting changed the feel some.  

And the setting is important.  Main character Clare has developed the ability to see ghosts from a certain period and area.  Namely ghosts from the Old West.  And she needs to live in the area where those ghosts are from.  In this case she is helping the ghost of gunslinger Jack Slade.  I hadn't heard of him before but in the Notes at the end Robin mentions a couple of books she used for her research.  This caught my interest enough that I actually check one of them - The Death of a Gunslinger: The Quest for Jack Slade, the West's Most Elusive Legend - out.  I haven't gotten very far - just the introduction - but we'll see if I can actually keep with it.

Anyway, because this is also a romance we also have a hero in the story.  Zach Slade has always been in police work.  But he was injured on the job, has some lasting wounds, and can no longer work in his chosen field.  The closest he can get is private investigator, as much as he sneers at even the words.  Zach is a very bitter character, but Clare seems to help "heal" his attitude and he improves with time.

And how can I forget Clare's new sidekick, Enzo.  He's a dog... and a ghost.  Which means he can talk.  And apparently he is occasionally something more as well.

Anyway, I still anxiously await another book in the Celta Heartmate series, but I look forward to reading the next book in this series, Ghost Layer, too.  And maybe I'll read the Enchanted series while I wait.

Touch

Title: Touch

Author: Michelle Sagara [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Michelle Sagara West aka Michelle West

Publisher: Daw Books

Series: Queen of the Dead, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780756408008

Length: 325 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I read the first book in this series for the Canadian Book Challenge 6.  I immediately requested this one.  It took over a year to actually get it from the time of my request.  But I did, and it qualifies for the 7th annual Canadian Book Challenge since Michelle Sagara is Canadian.

Comments:

It's been so long since I read the first book in the series, it took me a bit to catch up.  I just read my comments on the first book, Silence, to reacquaint myself with it before writing this.

Like the first book, this one started in first person then switched to third person for most of the book.  I think this one is told from more perspectives (as in more characters), but I could be remembering incorrectly. 

Definitely there is less focus on Emma in this one even though she plays a monumental role in what is happening.  Basically the Queen of the Dead is stirring up more trouble, Emma needs to help a young boy ghost who was abandoned to the elements, necromancers are causing trouble and attempting to kill innocent bystanders, and Emma is forced to confront her feeling about her late boyfriend, seeing as his ghost is back and in the mix.  But I say there is  less focus on Emma because more of the story is based around her friends and others in their group.

Anyway, I look forward to reading the third book, Grave.  I hope there is less time between books so I don't forget quite so much.  It would be a shame to loose some of the momentum this book ended with.

The Graveyard Book

Title: The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gaiman [Website][MouseCircus][IMDb][Twitter][Tumblr]; Illustrated by Dave McKean [Twitter][Website][MouseCircus]

Publisher: HarperCollins

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

This was one of my eBook selections for my England trip.  I've been meaning to read it since I first bought my hard-copy at the library book sale room a few years ago.

Comments:

The book was a mixture of cute and interesting, light and dark.  It starts with most of a family being coldly murdered.  But the baby happens to crawl off and ends up in the graveyard before the murderer can get him too.  There he is named (Nobody or Bod for short), raised, and taught by ghosts.  He has been given the power of the graveyard.  That is, as long as he stays in the graveyard he is protected.  he can remain hidden and do other things like the dead.

Each chapter is like it's own little adventure.  Like a serial, really, but combined to make one book.  Everyone in the graveyard contributes to his education and development.  Of course, he's a young and curious boy and so he gets into his share of scrapes.

I enjoyed the book and the characters.  It has won a number of awards, and though I'm not sure about all that, I'm glad I read it.  I'm also glad to have finally tried something by Neil Gaiman, and I wouldn't hesitate to read more.

Trailer:

Harper Connelly and Lily Bard Series by Charlaine Harris

I'm going to be frank.  I read a blur of Charlaine Harris eBooks, moving immediately from one to the next, and most of them on my stay in Europe.  I don't have many impressions of individual books.  But I'll give overall impressions and comments of the series (so far as I've read them).

Author: Charlaine Harris [Website][Facebook][IMDb]

Obtained: All the eBooks were library copies.  But I do own the hard copies for the Harper Connelly series.

Series: Harper Connelly, Bks 1-4

Grave Sight
Grave Surprise
An Ice Cold Grave
Grave Secret

I have mixed feelings about the characters.

Harper tends to hold herself back with the reader as much as the other characters in the book.  And when she wasn't distant, as the narrator, she was graphic (more so than I appreciated, though I'm sure others wouldn't mind).

Tolliver was okay, I guess.  He had jealousy issues, but then with Harper's combination of obliviousness mixed with her wishy-washy commitment (there were all these comments about how she found Manfred so tempting), I guess I can't entirely blame him.

I did like Manfred, which is good because he has his own new series (trilogy) - Midnight, Texas - starting with Midnight Crossroad.

Series: Lily Bard, Bks 1-2

Shakespeare's Landlord
Shakespeare's Champion

I've heard GREAT THINGS about this series.  So I was kinda surprised about Lily.  She's possibly even more withdrawn than Harper.  This is perhaps more understandable considering her background - brutal rape, etc.  But it does make it harder to connect with the character.  I was also thrown by the weight-lifter thing, although I get it, again considering her background.  But because of this background she makes choices I don't understand.

Like in the very beginning of Shakespeare's Landlord, Lily witnesses a body being disposed, and she tampers with evidence (!!!) because it could point to her.  Maybe that sounds common sense to you, but it caught me off guard.  I guess maybe because I'm used to amateur sleuth types immediately reporting the bodies they find.  (Because while I wouldn't call these books cozy, Lily does play the amateur sleuth role.)

Anyway, I will continue to see how the series progresses with Shakespeare's Christmas.

Never Forgotten

Title: Never Forgotten

Author: Terri Reid [Website] [Facebook]

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Series: Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery, Bk 3

ISBN: 9781482713558

Length: 237 pages + "A note from the author"

Obtained: ILL Library copy

Why this book?:

I finished the 2nd book in the series and was ready to see what happens next in the 3rd.

Comments:

As the 3rd book in the series, and following the cliffhanger of the 2nd, the reader is all set to finally find out what happened to Bradley's wife and unborn daughter.  But the reader is not going to get their way in this.  Because certain parties are sworn to confidentiality and others are oblivious.  Instead you get a book full of domestic abuse as not one, but two story lines, share that theme.  It's an intense subject that's addressed decently, if not with all the emotional intensity it could have.

Anyway, there is a seriously messed-up woman going around murdering men, and Bradley's next on the list.  Meanwhile, Mary and Bradley are in more of a committed relationship, both having declared their love for each other in Good Tidings.  That is, as committed as you can be when one of you is possibly still married.

Which brings me to the next item of interest.  One review (I want to say on GoodReads, but it could have been Amazon), mentioned that the series suddenly turned Christian.  I found this amusing, because it did suddenly become more religious.  I don't know if its because the book was set around the holidays (between Christmas and New Year), because of the domestic violence and mental issue theme, because of the growing relationship between Mary and Bradley (Mary says she doesn't intend to have premarital relations - she doesn't give a morality reason though.  More of a story about her parents love.)  Whatever the cause, I had noticed the shift as well.

Anyway, I was frustrated by the ending (which I won't go into for fear of spoilers), but I do want to continue with the series.  I've requested my library get the 4th book in the series, Final Call, so we'll see.

Good Tidings

Title: Good Tidings

Author: Terri Reid [Website] [Facebook]

Series: Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery, Bk 2

ASIN: B004DI7JZO

Length: 381 KB (284 pages)

Obtained: Free ebook copy on Amazon during a special promotional period

Why this book?:

It is the second book in a series that was recommended to me.  I enjoyed/was interested in the 1st book enough to go on.

Comments:

So the prologue caught me.  Even though I couldn't understand the trust.  I was mentally shouting NO!!! Bad Idea!  Anyway, that meant I was pretty edge of my seat when chapter 1 starts off in a light-hearted way.  And I was impatient for them to get on with it!  Find the baby!  Because, oh, did I mention?, this is a baby-kidnapping-fradulant-adoption story.  (A theme that I've seen before, but this had an interesting twist.  Or at least an interesting information source.)

Once the story catches up with the drama, I settled in.  The bad guy is pretty obvious.  Not a problem for me.  There were valid reasons why it wouldn't be as obvious to the characters as to the reader.  I did read a review on Amazon that pointed out some plot line connection issues that, now that I'm thinking of them, do make me wonder.  But overall I still enjoyed the story.

And I've already continued on and read book 3.  (There's a bit of a cliffhanger that made me glad I already had it on hand.)

Oh, and in (accidental) perfect timing, the story starts on Black Friday and ends around Christmas.  So I was actually in season.

Heart-Shaped Box

Title: Heart-Shaped Box

Author: Joe Hill aka Joseph Hillstrom King

Publisher: William Morrow

ISBN: 9780061147937

Length: 374 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I found out Daniel Radcliffe was acting in a new horror movie called Horns.  Then I found out that Horns is based on a novel of the same title by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King.  I had heard co-workers mentioning Joe Hill and his parentage along with words like "good" and "award-winning" back when NOS4A2 came out.  I read something that said something along the lines of Joe Hill's novel Heart-Shaped Box was better than Horns (and they like Horns).  So I decided to try both.  In order.  And before the movie.

Comments:

I can't help approach horror with some trepidation.  The few horror books I've read have been good.  And most of the limited horror movies I've seen have been decent.  But still.

Jude starts off being portrayed in such a way as to make me not like him so much.  But then he grew on me.  Well before the end I was rooting for him.  Same thing with his girlfriend Georgia/Marybeth, though the change was not quite so dramatic.  And the bad guy was sick and twisted and ugh.  Which is good, I guess. Right?  So those are the primary characters.  But wait! I forgot one.  Because though she's dead, Jude's ex-girlfriend Florida/Anna also plays a primary role.  And I could appreciate her, but in a more distant way.

Anyway, for the story itself.  It was creepy.  It had twisted mind games, which I strongly dislike (you're so out-of-control when someone else is playing with your head).  And an evil that you need to escape even while feeling trapped.  And some warped background exposed as you go along.  And overall?  I enjoyed it.  But I mostly read it during the day.

Oh!  And when I started it (in the car on the way to the zoo), I was listening to Hugh Laurie's Didn't it Rain.  And that bluesy feel really worked for the book, despite the fact that Jude was apparently more of a metal musician (as I kept reminding myself).

So I should be reading Horns soon.  And if that goes well, maybe I'll even try NOS4A2.

Trailers (only slight variations between the two):

Loose Ends

Title: Loose Ends

Author: Terri Reid [Website] [Facebook]

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Series: Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781461014522

Length: 273 pages

Obtained: ILL Library copy

Why this book?:

It was recommended by a friend.

Comments:

I didn't know what to expect of this, other than J. Kaye mentioning the author as one she'd recently found.

I liked that Mary O'Reilly came with such an honorable background before the paranormal investigative part became part of her life.  I liked that she wasn't too pushy about what she did.  Obviously she wanted people to believe her, but I didn't feel any, as the reader, "you must believe or you are an ignorant fool."  Her friends in her newfound hometown were charming.  I liked the police chief (But talk about baggage!  We'll see how that goes.)

The mystery isn't complex, or at least not from the reader's standpoint.  I guessed the murdered once he had time on the page.  But that's not a problem for me as long as Mary isn't stupid and missing in-your-face clues about it.

Anyway, Mary's been hired to solve a cold case for a Senator's wife, and in the process she uncovers a series of old child abductions.  Talk about sickening.  But the book isn't without its amusing parts.  So I enjoyed it.

I got book two, Good Tidings, free through Amazon.  And I have the 3rd book, Never Forgotten, coming through as another InterLibrary Loan.  So I should be moving on with the series soon.

So Cold the River

Title: So Cold the River

Author: Michael Koryta

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

ISBN: 9780316053631

Pages: 503

Obtained: Library copy (Print and ebook)

Why this book?:

My grandmother's book club chose it.

Trailers:



Comments:

I started this as an ebook, but mostly read it in print.  This was so much faster paced compared to the last book club book.  What a relief.  Though someone from work said her sister said it was hard to get into.  I guess it's an individual person kind of thing.  I know my grandmother read it quickly.  And I'll see what the others think on the 11th.

Eric is a failed, um, I can't remember what he called himself.  He made films, documentaries and the like, but weird things happened and he had conflict with the directors and some sort of breakdown... it was all kinda muddled and relayed to the reader in past tense.  Because now Eric does those film things they play at weddings and funerals and other important events.  He especially excels at the funeral film/slideshows.  Hence he gets the client who starts this whole adventure...

He's to document his client's father's childhood/childhood history/boyhood home.  So he drives from Chicago to French Lick and West Baden, Indiana.  But before he leaves the creepy stuff starts happening.  And it all involves that bottle of water his client gave him to use as inspiration.

I found the story interesting with touches of humor and wallops of creepy.  Also to be found...

• Intriguing descriptions of the hotels which are, apparently, real.
• Bits about the instruments used to measure the weather, etc.
• Quite a bit of trust and "am I crazy" sort of moments on the main characters behalf.  Can you believe him?
• Addiction - and not the way you might think.
• Some racial (and racist) relations.
• Some paranormal ghost and possession and evil stuffs.
• In line with the former two points, violence is to be expected.

And that's about it without telling you the whole story.  I would have no problem reading more by this author - except as this is not a series, that seems unlikely.

That Old Flame of Mine

Title: That Old Flame of Mine

Author: J. J. Cook aka Joyce and Jim Lavene

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425252048

Pages: 292 + "The Sweet Pepper Difference" and Recipes

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book:

I regularly check for new series debuts published by Berkley Prime Crime, then request the library purchase them.  This is one of those.  I decided to read it now over other possibilities due to a review by Kimberlee @ Girl Lost in a Book.

Trailer:

 

 

Comments:

Set in small town Tennessee and featuring the new (temporary) fire chief of the new (hopefully not-so-temporary) volunteer fire brigade, That Old Flame of Mine caught my attention right away.  Add to that the touch of paranormal (a ghost), and the hook dug in further.  I'm not going to gush.  Some aspects - especially where relationships are concerned (potential romantic and others) were a bit to abrupt for me. 

But I did enjoy the book.  I liked Stella.  She's a strong and intelligent heroine.  She has a strong background with obvious leadership skills that help make her an appealing character.  And one of the relationships that did feel natural is between Stella and the ghost, Eric.  Once the initial "no-such-thing-as-ghosts" thing was past, they jibed well together.

I did guess the suspect (there were some indications of hinkiness), but I absolutely positively did not guess the why.  It simply didn't occur to me until it was revealed in the story.  I guess you could say I had a hunch, but no proof. =)

There's supposed to be an e-book special out in December 2013 titled "Hero's Journey" about the Dalmatian puppy of the series.  Not sure if I'll be able to read that, we'll see.  Then the full on second book, Playing With Fire, is due out January 2014.  I definitely plan on reading that, especially considering the end of this one (oops, forgot to mention the last minute cliffhanger... though the original mystery is solved).

Silence

Title: Silence

Author: Michelle Sagara aka Michelle Sagara West aka Michelle West

Publisher: DAW Books

Series: The Queen of the Dead, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780756407421

Pages: 289

Obtained: Library Copy

Comments:

I was looking for more ideas for Canadian books to read - this time on NoveList (a great resource if you get the chance to try it - I have access through my local library).  I've meant to read Michelle's books before; I've heard such great things.  But now I saw a first in a new series (what better way to try an author for the first time).  And the potential storyline intrigued me.  There's the whole seeing the dead thing.  Plus check out that cover!

I was a little concerned when the first scene started in present tense, but the remainder of the story was in third person (thankfully).  And once I started reading, I really like Emma as a character.  She's been through a lot.  She's honest about her reactions to everything she's been through, saying she'd gone through periods of self-pity, etc.  Beyond that she's a good friend.  Even when she wants her space.  As her friend Ally explains to another character, Eric, she kind of holds everyone together.  But she's especially great with Michael.

I found myself very pleased with how the character Michael was portrayed.  He's a high-functioning autistic.  And his character has such depth.  I'm not especially close to anyone with autism (I have a couple cousins with autism, but they live far away and are quite a bit younger), so I don't have any personal connection, really.  But that doesn't mean I can't recognize when an issue is addressed well.  In this case Michael goes to school and has a group of friends that keep his environment calm and steady... or at least as much as possible when dead people start showing up.  That all made sense when I read in the "About the Author" that her older son "taught her a lot about ASD, the school system, and the way kids are not as unkind as we, [...], are always terrified they will be."

Anyway, the friendship aspect was wonderful, but that wasn't even the primary focus of the story.  The main focus is Emma's new powers, new student Eric's secretive awareness of what is going on with her, and what that all means.  The story was even more interesting than what I hoped, and I look forward to reading the 2nd book in the series, Touch (due out, I believe, May 2013).

UPDATE: 1/14/2017 I do have a personal connection.  My nephew (now 9) has been diagnosed as having autism.  

Sketch Me If You Can

Title: Sketch Me If You Can

Author: Sharon Pape

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Portrait of Crime Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425236048

Pages: 293

Obtained: personal copy - Purchased from Borders closing sale

Comments:

Let's be frank.  I've been going through a reading slump.  I'm sure as my fellow readers, you understand that said slumps don't really reflect the quality of the books you're reading.  I was just having concentration issues among other things.  Please keep that in mind when I say that I read this over the course of a few weeks.

The idea of a mystery series centered around a sketch artist really caught my interest.  And then I found out there was some paranormal aspect (a ghost as it turns out), and my interest was further peaked.  But it still took me awhile to read this book.  I kept offering it as a possibility for my Cozy Cull giveaway and while no one actually requested it, as soon as no other requests were made, well... that was all the motivation I needed to finally get started.

Rory is a great character.  She's a police detective, but because her job is sketch artist she's pretty under-utilized outside of that role.  And she's starting to find herself in a rut of sorts.  But she has recently found herself the beneficiary of her uncles house and PI agency when he passes.  And suddenly she finds new doors are opening, along with her eyes and her perception of the paranormal.

While Rory is on the police force, I believe this can still qualify as a cozy mystery.  Among other things, the mystery du jour is something Rory is investigating outside of her regular job.  But call it what you will, it's an fun mystery.

I did guess who the murderer was, but enjoyed Zeke (the ghost) and Rory's way to figuring out who and why (which I did not guess).

I really hope to read more of the series.  The second book, To Sketch a Thief and the third, Sketch a Falling Star are both out and available so I should be able to move forward with this series soon.

If Fried Chicken Could Fly

Title: If Fried Chicken Could Fly

Author: Paige Shelton aka Paige Shelton-Ferrell

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Country Cooking School Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425245859

Pages: 286 + Recipes

Obtained: Personal copy purchased used from library book sale room or cart (depending on which branch)

Comments:

I somehow managed not to realize that this cozy has a paranormal twist; it does.  I enjoy books with a paranormal aspect, but that was my first impression since it caught me so off guard.

The mystery is fine.  There's a murder victim in the cooking school, and Betts Gram is suspect (though unlikely).  I was actually so involved in the characters and some of the surrounding mystery that I didn't really put much effort into trying to figure out who the murderer was.

As for those characters, I like Isabelle "Betts".  She's honest with herself, which is a great characteristic.  She has her faults (such as being an absolute dunce where Cliff is concerned), but I can deal.  And I think she's in just the right position for future mysteries.

Cliff is the former H.S. boyfriend come home again and maybe interested in sparking things back up.  More than that, he's a cop and potential information source.

An even better source, though, is the ghost, Jerome.  He seemed like a decent (though dead) guy, and I could feel both his earnest efforts to help and his frustration when he had memory issues.  I liked him and hope to see his character again.  But I think what intrigued me the most was the idea there might be different ghosts in future books.

I actually found Gram aka Miz a little annoying.  How awful is that?  But what I think was supposed to be spunk and a lively character just didn't work for me.  It isn't like she's a bad character, just not one I found as great as I suspect I'm supposed to.

Perhaps my favorite character is Betts's best friend Jake.  He's all into history and archiving and that whole aspect of things was pretty interesting to me.  I think it'd be fascinating to work with an archive, and to be the one bringing it to life? Cool.

Anyway, I hope to read the second book, If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance (just out this October), soon.  I've requested the library purchase it.

Last Wool and Testament

Title: Last Wool and Testament

Author: Molly MacRae

Publisher: Obsidian Mystery

Series: Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780451237828

Pages: 316 + a few recipes

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I don't really know where to start with this so please pardon the hodgepodge format.

The first interaction of the book is between Kath and Deputy Cole Dunbar. He's insensitive, especially considering Kath is on her way to her grandmother's burial. But I didn't hold anywhere near the grudge she did toward him throughout the book. I kept wishing she'd get over it. On the other hand, I know what it can be like to deal with an insensitive jerk/clod when grieving (with me it was the vet when one of our dogs had to be put down).

There are actually little mysteries within bigger mysteries. Suffice it to say, I apparently have a better honed judgment of character than Kath, because while I didn't guess details, I did accurately guess who was shady and to be suspected with more than one person (because of course there must be red herrings which means more than one not-great person).

Anyway, it was interesting, but I think this is the kind of series that I'll become more attached to it as I continue reading it.  Which I will begin doing when the 2nd book, Dyeing Wishes, comes out in 2013.

An Exploration of Halloween Children's Books, Part 2

Since I couldn't fit tags of all the authors, illustrators, etc. I've separated my original post into 2 parts.  The first can be found here.  I'm sure this makes how overboard I went on Halloween books more obvious than ever.

_____________________________________________________________________

Spooky Hour by Tony Mitton; Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees (library copy)

This is one of those count-down books (11 witches, 10 ghosts, etc.) that I especially like to read to my niece.  The pictures are cute, and it was fun seeing the different creatures.  I also appreciate books play with descriptive vocabulary for kids...prowling, yowling, growling, rumbling, grumbling, scuttling, cackle... you get the drift.  This is one of those books.

Twelve Haunted Rooms of Halloween by Macky Pamintuan (library copy)

A Halloween version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, I had this one pretty much memorized after oh, three reads?  By the fourth or fifth... I was focusing on the end task of finding 2 snakes, 3 voodoo dolls, etc.  And guess who requested this one multiple times?  You've got it... my niece.  I wonder if she really enjoys books that much or if it's the age (she'll be 4 in a few months).  I think I used to read to my oldest nephew a more than I do now.

Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohura (library copy)

I read this to myself first while browsing on my break.  It was pretty funny, so I knew certain kiddos would like it.  My niece loved how silly it is and I ended up reading it a couple times before I convinced her to get another book.

Halloween Mice! by Bethany Roberts; Illustrated by Doug Cushman (library copy)

I picked this because it was a Halloween board book ( had the youngest nephew in mind), cute, and it has the descriptive vocab I mentioned earlier.  But it didn't seem to attract my niece's attention the way others had, and my nephew hasn't heard it read yet.  I'll have to see...

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich: And Other Stories You're Sure To Like, Because They're All About Monsters and Some of Them Are Also About Food.: You Like Food Don't You?  Well, All Right Then. by Adam Rex

I found this as amusing as the title makes it sound.  It's full of poems and matching illustrations.  Favorites would be "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich," the "Phantom of the Opera" series, and (I'm being honest here) Godzilla Pooped on My Honda (because don't you appreciate the title that a 5 year old who got in trouble at preschool for saying poop too much HAS to like?).  I didn't get a chance to read it to my oldest nephew yet (I want to), but my niece heard some toward the beginning and seemed interested, though the books a little above her age level.  It has a staff recommendation at my library that says it's for grades 2-5.

_____________________________________________________________________

And that's it for now, folks.  Finally.

...and 2 Tbsp of Paranormal

Copper Beach (Dark Legacy, Bk 1) by Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick aka Jayne Castle (library copy) -

So I was really in the mood to catch up and decided to go ahead and read a library copy of this.  I'll still need to get my own keeper copy, but for now... Anyway.  I've grown so used to Arcane books now, it threw me a little to have a JAK book that was still loaded with psychic abilities but minus the Society.  I almost felt like it was a jump back to her writing pre-Arcane except then the psychic stuff was hinted at, not an outright element of the plot.  I liked the characters well enough, and I'm interested in reading more of this new series (Of course.  It's JAK.  Even if I wasn't pleased I would still read the next book.).  I'm assuming that more is probably surrounding Sam Coppersmith's brother and sister.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (library copy) -

I saw a review for this at Mish's Book Shelf.  It sounded intriguing, and I LOVE the cover, so I requested my library purchase it.  I didn't realize at first that the narrator is a guy.  That didn't effect the quality, but it was a first impression, so I'm mentioning it.  The story was as interesting as it sounded.  Now that I've read it I think I might actually call it YA horror.  Anyway, Cas's quest gripped me and dragged me in.  But I have to say (and I hope I'm not giving too much away) the part that hit me the hardest was the fate of the cat.  I went to bed after I finished this and had to keep turning my mind away from that poor cat so I could sleep.  Anyway, Apparently there's a second book due out in August called Girl of Nightmares which I definitely plan on reading.