"Extremely Accurate Charts for Book Nerds

I am supposed to be looking up something important or doing something important and saw  this. So of course I am reading that and wanted to share it with you. All true. Click the link for more charts.

http://www.epicreads.com/blog/extremely-accurate-charts-for-book-nerds/



Here's a couple more truisms (is that a word?).





This is very true. Or that moment of panic when you are almost finished and not sure what you are reading next!


I think this everyday.



 Now what am I supposed to be doing? Happy weekend!

The First Lie

  The  First Lie (Selkie Moon Mystery #1) by Virginia King
http://www.selkiemoon.com/


I won The First Lie in an online book scavenger hunt a few months back. That was a lot of fun and even more fun to win 3rd place with a prize of books. Being a book addict/collector, I just got to The First Lie a couple of weeks ago. I like it a lot.

Here is the description:

"When Selkie Moon flees Sydney to start over in Hawaii, it’s to live life on her own terms. But Life has other plans.
Though she tries to dismiss the warning as just another nightmare, it soon becomes apparent that someone, or something, is stalking her. Attacked by frightening visions and mysterious compulsions, she must piece together the fragmented clues before time runs out.
Virginia King effortlessly blends funky creativity and deep spirituality – with a dash of Celtic folklore – to craft a story of one woman’s fight for truth, and her discovery that the lies we tell ourselves are the most dangerous of all." 

One of my favorite movies that my children watched was The Secret of Roan Inish. It was about  the Irish legend of the selkies - seals that can shed their skin to become human. I think I watched the movie more than my kids did. That made me even more interested in this story.

This story combines that myth with a modern mystery. Selkie Moon is the main character. She has left her abusive husband in Sydney and moved to Hawaii to get far away from him and start a business giving motivational seminars. She has several quirky friends including her roommate Wanda who makes art out of dried fish, Derek her assistant, Nigel Derek's partner (they are Selkie's guardians), Coral, a woman who lives on the street but has some ability to see what others cannot and Davina, who is a dress maker but so much more. Selkie has also left her father, stepmother and sister in Sydney and is somewhat estranged from them.

The story begins when Selkie sees a woman in a mirror that belongs to Wanda. The woman is looking right at her and appears to be real. Selkie hears words in her head as if the woman is giving her a message that someone is trying to kill her. When Selkie turns around, the woman is not there. (I always like a little supernatural thing going on). We follow Selkie as she tries to find out who the woman is, get her business going, not fall for another abusive man, not get killed and finally find out what was the first lie.

I loved the writing. It is a good thriller but also has some wonderfully written descriptions of Selkie's experiences? dreams? visions? The story also brings in some the legends and myths in Hawaii. There are many layers to this story. What part does Selkie's childhood play in all that is happening to her? Are these things real, magical, psychological?

The story ends with you wanting to know more. Luckily, book #2, The Second Path, looks like it picks up right where The First Lie, leaves off.

Here is little bit about the author:  "Before Selkie Moon invaded her life, Virginia had been a teacher, an unemployed ex-teacher, the author of over 50 children’s books, an audio-book producer, a workshop presenter and a prize-winning publisher. These days she lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney with her husband, where she disappears each day into Selkie Moon’s latest mystery. Bliss"

Bonus: Here is a link to get a free download of the 24 page prequel to the Selkie Moon mysteries: Laying Ghosts.

http://www.selkiemoon.com/#popup

Another great author from Australia/New Zealand part of the world.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8186550.Virginia_King

Addendum: I read the prequel, Laying Ghosts. Really quick, short story really. I love how the author plays between reality and supernatural? Serendipity? Luck? Really good and I look forward to reading the next in the series.


I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Currrently reading....

Goodness, record amount of work at work this week. (I don't think that is good grammar). It is as bad as the week was, you might say.

I am currently reading:

The First Lie (Selkie Moon Mystery Series Book 1) by Virginia King. I won it in the scavenger hunt I participated in and finally am checking out those books I won. This the second of five and have not been disappointed.



I hope to finish it this weekend, if it rains as promised and I don't feel compelled to "work outside".

Then I will be reading our MBC selection for May:

Rage Against the Dying (Brigid Quinn, #1) by Becky Masterman



One last thing, the final season of Wallander on PBS May 8. We will also have Endeavor and Inspector Lewis in the summer. This will also be the final season for Inspector Lewis. I hope they have some good mysteries in the works for us. :)

In The Blood

Yes I have been missing from this blog for a couple of weeks, I think. And missing reading. We are well into spring here, which has generated spring cleaning during all free time. You know, clearing out weeds, leaves from flower beds, bringing out the patio furniture etc. I have not been able to read much and that is really not making me happy.

I found myself sitting in the middle of the yard on a chair, standing or sitting guard, as my husband was power washing the upstairs "just in case something happens, you stay there". As I sat there looking around, I said to myself, "Hey you could be reading", ran and got my book and finished:

In the Blood (Genealogical Crime Mystery #1) by Steve Robinson



Here's the book description:

"Two hundred years ago a loyalist family fled to England to escape the American War of Independence and seemingly vanished into thin air. American genealogist Jefferson Tayte is hired to find out what happened, but it soon becomes apparent that a calculated killer is out to stop him.
In the Blood combines a centuries-old mystery with a present-day thriller that brings two people from opposite sides of the Atlantic together to uncover a series of carefully hidden crimes. Tayte's research centres around the tragic life of a young Cornish girl, a writing box, and the discovery of a dark secret that he believes will lead him to the family he is looking for. Trouble is, someone else is looking for the same answers and will stop at nothing to find them."

My best friend Kathy recommended this to me last month. My other hobby is genealogy. I have traced my ancestors back to late 1400's on one side and early 1600's on the other side. And I watch all of those family tree shows. So this was a good book for me.

Jeff is hired by Walter Sloane to find more information on the his ancestors. When Jeff hits a "brick wall", Sloane insists he go to England and search over there. Well, Jeff is afraid of flying. But there is an unusual sense of urgency by Sloane. Jeff makes it to England, checks into a bed and breakfast and starts right off to find the Fairborne family that lives in England. No one really wants to talk to James. He is knocked out on his first visit to the Fairborne's and wakes up to a note basically telling him to mind his own business. The records about the family in the historical center have been stolen. His search leads him to Ferryman House, where Amy Fallon lives and runs a ferry service. Her husband went missing over a year ago, when he went out fishing. Work men have found an old writing box during renovations. Seems others are interested in this box. What is the connection?

The story goes back and forth from the story of the Fairborne family in England in the 1700's to Jeff's search which he continues despite, a murder, a kidnapping and someone trying to kill him.

It's a quite a page turner and I loved the historical fiction. The story goes from 1784 to present day. Without saying too much, I will tell you that it involves something devious that you probably thought only goes on today in the modern world of technology. I was surprised to think that may have happened hundreds of years ago, with even worse outcomes.

Can Jeff unweave this centuries old mystery?

There are a total of five books in this genealogical mystery series. And I hear each one is better than the last.

The Three Deaths of Magdalena Lynton

I read another really good thriller by Katherine Hayton called The Three Deaths of Magdalene Lynton that I happily got to read as an ARC last month.



"Forty years ago Magdalene Lynton drowned in a slurry. She choked to death as her hands scrabbled for purchase on the smooth concrete walls. A farmhand discovered her bloated body three days later.

Or she didn't.

Paul Worthington just confessed to her murder.
Forty years ago Magdalene Lynton died in a dirty shed. He smothered her life along with her cries for help and tossed her defiled corpse into a river when he was done.

Or he didn't.

As Detective Ngaire Blakes investigates the death, she discovers clues that won't piece together with either version. Gaps, inconsistencies, lies. And forty years have eroded more than memories.

Is it possible to uncover the third death of Magdalene Lynton when time has eaten away at the evidence? And will the person responsible let Ngaire live long enough to try?"

Ngaire Blakes is a detective with the Christchurch (new Zealand) Police Department. She is on light duty after having suffered an assault. They haven't arrested the person responsible. No one knows who assaulted her. Or does someone?

Ngaire isn't very happy pushing papers, when Paul Worthington comes in to the station to confess to suffocating Magdalene Lynton when he was a teenager. Paul is dying of cancer and wants to confess before he dies. Ngaire mentions the case to her good friend Finlay, a journalist. He had been doing a piece on a church and in his research notes, he has information that says Magdalene was found drowned in a slurry on the property what was at that time, the Christ Cult. Ngaire and fellow detective Deb, interview Paul. His information doesn't seem to match what the records say. Ngaire feels drawn to getting to the truth and gets an o.k. to visit Magdalene's parents who now live in a retirement home. Gradually going toward working on this case.

Flash sideways: William Glover is a lawyer with political aspirations. He grew up on a dairy farm near the Christ Cult. He is married and has a little girl. He reads the article in the paper about Paul's confession to the murder of Magdalene. He leaves his office in a fury to go see Paul. He hasn't seen him since they were teenagers, but he will represent Paul...or make sure he doesn't say too much.

This is a really good, fast paced, fast read with lots of twists. Most of the characters have lots of baggage. Some you will sympathize with, some you will despise.

I received a free copy in exchange for a review.

The Recipient is ready for pre order!

 







Hey everyone! I know a some of you were interested in reading The Recipient by Dean Mayes when it comes out.

It is now available for pre-order from Book Depository, discount for pre-order, free shipping, and a bonus signed post card from the author! Got mine ordered.

Refresher:

"Casey Schillinge is a vivacious young woman on the verge of making her mark on the world. While backpacking, she is struck down by a tropical disease and suffers cardiac failure. But at the eleventh hour, Casey receives a life-saving heart transplant - and a rare second chance to begin again.

Three years later, Casey has become a withdrawn shell of her former self: she is estranged from her loved ones, afraid of open spaces and rides the line between legitimate and criminal work. The worst of her troubles come in the form of violent night terrors; so frightening that she resorts to extreme measures to keep herself from sleeping. When she can take no more, she embarks on a desperate search for the source of her dreams. ​In so doing, she makes a shocking discovery surrounding the tragic fate of the donor whose heart now beats inside her chest. As she delves deeper into the mystery of her donor, she realizes her dreams are not a figment of her imagination, but a real life nightmare. "

This story is pretty close to "this could happen" and some of it has, without giving too much away.
Really an excellent, captivating book. You won't be able to put it down.

Here's the scoop on pre-ordering:

"The Recipient - the powerful new psychological thriller from Australian author and Intensive Care Nurse, Dean Mayes, is available for pre-order now through The Book Depository. Orders placed ahead of the May 1st release date include free shipping. The Recipient is also available for pre-order through Amazon US & Amazon UK.

Dean would like to offer readers who pre-order an exclusive signed post card to include as a memento with their copy. Contact Dean with your proof purchase to take advantage of this offer."   

 

(Here is Dean's blog:   http://www.deanfromaustralia.com)

 

I think you will really like it.

Addendum: It is also available for preorder for Kindle now, and then will be available May 1, 2016.

 

 

Sea Change

I keep finding more and more good mysteries of all different types, through different opportunities. I can't believe I used to read only a couple of different authors for so many years. Of course I have a little more time now and attribute a lot of my branching out to the MBC, which led to blogging, which led to authors introducing me to their books, which led to "wow there are a lot of books I would like to read."

My latest find was Sea Change; A Nina Bannister Mystery by husband and wife team T'Gracie and Joe Reese. Sea Change is the first in a series of 7 books, so far. All 7 books are something Change - Sea Change, Set Change, Game Change etc.



"Bay St. Lucy is a sleepy little Gulf Coast community and that’s the way its residents like it. Most of them generally ignore the monstrous old Robinson mansion that sits in the center of town, until one day insane old man Robinson dies and leaves the house and its accompanying fortune to the town.
The residents are ecstatic and begin planning improved schools and cultural centers. Local retired school teacher and village elder Nina Bannister is sent to the man’s funeral in New Orleans to represent Bay St. Lucy at the reading of his will. However, Nina returns from her trip saddened to report that a lone Robinson relative has appeared to claim the entire inheritance. Almost immediately, the new owner–flamboyant Eve Ivory–arrives and announces her plans to turn Bay St. Lucy into an extravagant vacation resort. These are not plans that anyone in this small town likes at all, and ones that will quickly lead to murder."

Nina Bannister was a school teacher in Bay St. Lucy, and is now retired. Seems like she taught everyone in town that is younger than her. Everyone loves Nina. Her character reminds me of Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote. She has the smarts and common sense for a lot of the town and is well respected. Her mode of transportation, rain or shine, is a Vespa. We often get to see what she is thinking in contrast to what she says, which is always politically correct. It is pretty funny. Her husband, Frank, passed away but she discusses things with him anyway. Another thing I loved about Nina is - guess what church she attends? The library! She goes there to think and sort things out when she is in the need of spiritual guidance. And who provides this spiritual guidance? Authors! In this book, it is Jane Austen. Jane helps her work out the mystery. :)

Nina's good friend is Margot Gavin who owns a shop with artwork, pottery, and knick knacks. Margot has retired to Bay St. Lucy after a career at the Art Institute of Chicago as the Managing Director. She is having a little trouble adjusting to a slower pace. She likes her martinis and cigarettes.

Then we have Penelope Royale. Nina goes fishing with her once a month. This description of her is great:

"She was a square block of granite, except harder.  Everything about her was square.  She was five feet tall and five feet wide and five feet deep.  Her mouth, the wrinkles on her forehead, the wrinkles on her chin, were all perfectly horizontal, like lines of latitude. Nowhere on her body were there lines of longitude. She was a latitudinal human being, with no use for the ups and downs in life. She had flaming red hair, done in the manner of materials used in packing crates. Penelope was also the only woman Nina knew who spoke only in obscenities."

Now I will tell you that this book has no printed obscenities, only suggested.

Besides these great characters, each chapter starts with a quote from an author and have to do with writing. I will share a few because I really enjoyed them.

You can be a little ungrammatical if you come from the right part of the country.” Robert Frost

“If I didn’t know the ending of a story I wouldn’t begin.  I always write my last line, my last page, my last paragraph, first.” Katherine Anne Porter

“The best time for planning a book is when you’re doing the dishes.” Agatha Christie (Do you think Agatha Christie did dishes?)

Nina keeps her head about her when everyone else is loosing theirs' and solves the mystery.

I will definitely read more of the Nina Bannister books.

http://ninabannister.com/

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. And I really liked it.

 

 

 

 
                                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                      Agatha Christie