Publication Date:
May 30, 2022
Length:
302 pages
Summary:
Book reviews featuring history, historical fiction, and mysteries, as well as my thoughts on all things bookish.
Publication Date:
May 30, 2022
Length:
302 pages
Summary:
For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, To Kill a King: The Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mysteries Book Five) by David Field. I love his historical fiction books and have reviewed several. This is one of three historical mystery series he's written. His books are always entertaining and informative of the time period. His research is solid and on point and I always learn something new. I hope you have found something you can't wait to read this week!
October 18, 2024
Not everyone is ready to welcome the new king of England…
Nottingham, England, 1603
Queen Elizabeth’s long reign has finally come to an end and the Tudor era is over. Scottish King James has been handed the crown of England, but not everyone is happy about that, and there are several plots being hatched to replace him with an alternative.
Bailiff Edward Mountsorrel already has his hands full with an increase in destitute vagrants flooding the county, who seem to be victims of a human trafficker. But before he can find the man responsible, he is tasked by an official with royal authority to infiltrate a local group, who it is rumoured are plotting to assassinate the new king.
Edward enlists the help of fellow bailiff, Francis Barton to find the group, who are hiding out in Sherwood Forest.
But the only way to discover the plot is to place themselves right in the heart of the danger. And there’s a good chance they will be killed before they can save the king…
Who is leading the band of rebels? Can he be stopped?
And is there a connection between the treasonous plot and the desperate vagrants Edward is trying to assist…?
To Kill A King is the fifth historical thriller in the Bailiff Mountsorrel Tudor Mystery Series – private investigation crime novels set during the reign of Elizabeth I and beyond.
Publication Date:
Length:
176 pages
Summary:
Since I wondered myself...the title of this book comes from the words of Holmes himself in a speech to Watson. He says, "There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colorless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it." This is the first story of Holmes and Watson. Through a series of events they become roommates and are seemingly compatible. Watson is intrigued by Holmes and his work, clients being those with criminal cases to solve. And Holmes likes schooling Watson on his methods, holding back his most coveted "tricks" for solving his cases. Watson, a veteran of the Second Afghan War is used to a serious side of life, but he still retains a bit of innocence and guile as he marvels at Holmes's uncanny detective skills.
When a telegram arrives requesting Holmes's help in solving a new case, the two men travel to the crime scene, finding a victim, a strange German word written on the wall, RACHE, and a lady's gold wedding ring. After using a newspaper ad to try to find the ring's owner, Holmes later becomes convinced the owner is in on the murder. When another murder occurs with more identical clues, Holmes is convinced all is related and begins his deduction skills to solve the crimes and piece everything together.
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!
This is the first in the Lady Darby mystery series. I just reviewed the latest book by Anna Lee Huber, The Cold Light of Day, and want to try out her series set in a time and place I find a bit more interesting.....19th century Scotland. So this is the first one for this set. It is a very unique premise. Lady Darby will use her knowledge of human anatomy to help in a murder case. Should be a good read as I found Huber's other book very well written and complicated. This was because I'd started at the end. But it was a good book still so I'm hoping this one will be even better!
I really enjoy non-fiction books that are structured like this one. When they take several people in history that relate to a topic and give a short synopsis of each one. I can see a snapshot of a timeline or historical persons and then if one really appeals to me I can get a biography of just that person or time period. But I don't have to wade through lots and lots details I might not be interested in. This one includes Kings from Charlemagne to Robert the Bruce and are personalities that don't necessarily get a lot of attention. I will probably read it slowly and even skip around to the ones that are most appealing.
I honestly was drawn to this book for its unique cover and title. I also love these reissued British Mystery Classics. This is a new to me author which is always good and I love trying out new mysteries anytime. The Amazon synopsis says it is an "exploration of morality, justice, and human nature." I like that added layer of depth and the classic authors really know how to write about those topics well. Hoping it's a good one!
Publication Date:
Length:
256 pages
Summary:
I have had a hard time keeping up with Read Christie this summer. So despite my post from two years ago about not liking audiobooks I'm fast changing my mind! I listened to this one. And it was a great break from reading in that the narration by Hugh Fraser from Poirot made it a lot of fun. I have missed out on reading the March, July, and August selections so it was nice to get back to my commitment of reading them each month.
Dr. Arthur Calgary is an explorer who has been away for some time in Antarctica. When he discovers he is the sole alibi for a man named Jacko Argyle in a murder conviction, he realizes he must contact the man's family and clear his name. Jacko was accused of murdering his adoptive, overbearing mother, Rachel Argyle. Unfortunately, when Dr. Calgary arrives at the family home, they are not receptive to his good news. It seems Jacko was convicted and died in prison, seemingly guilty of the crime. And the family feels that everyone should leave well enough alone. Jacko was not beloved by them, always in trouble, and causing mischief. No one seems to care if he was innocent of this particular crime as he was the cause of so much strife in their lives anyway. They also realize that if Jacko was innocent, then one of them might be the guilty party. And that is another burden no one wants to deal with.
But Dr. Calgary is not so sure the "leave well enough alone" scenario is acceptable. He feels a duty to get to the bottom of the question: If Jacko didn't murder the mother, then who did? And why? And so he sets out to discover motive, opportunity, and the reason behind it all. He meets resistance at every turn from the children and father and knows he is treading in dangerous territory.
Publication Date:
September 24, 2024
Length:
402 pages
Summary:
Verity Kent and her husband Sydney are in Dublin working with the Secret Service on several investigations. Verity's friend Alec is missing having gone dark on his latest mission, they are trying to locate poisonous gas containers held by an arch enemy, Lord Ardmore, and then an official wants them to find out who assaulted their daughter. There is tension between husband and wife due to their having been apart for various reasons past and Verity's seemingly romantic entanglement with the man, Alec they are searching for. As the story unfolds the couple has to put aside their resentments and doubts to work together. It is obvious they love one another deeply but have somewhat separate lives as well, making it hard to be of one mind sometimes.