The Glass Thief by Gigi Pandian

Just finished The Glass Thief by Gigi Pandian. It is coming out November 12. I really like all of this authors books.



About: "

A locked-room mystery at a Paris mansion. A supposed ghost haunting a French family who looted treasure from Cambodia.

A reclusive thriller author writing a novel in honor of historian Jaya Jones--is it a work of fiction or a devious device to lure Jaya into solving a chilling mystery?

Three unsolved murders spanning seventy years have befallen the same French family, each taking place two nights before Christmas at their Paris mansion--and blamed on the family ghost.

When Jaya realizes the truth hits closer to home than she realized, she must risk everything as she flees San Francisco for France and Cambodia to find a missing sculpture known as the Serpent King and stop a flesh and blood killer."

Jaya is asked to read the latest book by her favorite author, chapter by chapter. The author, Rick, has been in seclusion for seven years, and hasn't written a book in that time. As she reads the chapters, she thinks this story may be based in reality and can't help but get involved in looking for the lost treasure. But in order to do this, she must solve the mystery of the deaths by a "ghost" in the Paris mansion.

The Glass Thief is a complex mystery with many layers to it. The story takes Jaya from San Francisco, to France and finally to Cambodia, all the while trying to solve a locked room mystery. Very interesting historical information about artifacts from Cambodia and India woven into the story. Lots of interesting characters; Lane and his background, Sebastien the elderly magician, Sanjay, Wesley and Becca. The end of the book is fast paced and tense with a really good ending.

If you would like to check out Gigi's books, here is her website. I like her Accidental Alchemist books too, which includes some good recipes.

https://www.gigipandian.com/books/

I received a Advanced Reader Copy and voluntarily provided this review.

The Glass Thief is a complex mystery with many layers to it. The story takes Jaya from San Fransisco, to France and finally to Cambodia, all the while trying to solve a locked room mystery. Very interesting historical information about artifacts from Cambodia and India woven into the story. Lots of interesting characters; Lane and his background, Sebastien the elderly magician, Sanjay, Wesley and Becca. The end of the book is fast paced and tense with a really good ending.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy and voluntarily provided this review.

The Glass Thief is a complex mystery with many layers to it. The story takes Jaya from San Fransisco, to France and finally to Cambodia, all the while trying to solve a locked room mystery. Very interesting historical information about artifacts from Cambodia and India woven into the story. Lots of interesting characters; Lane and his background, Sebastien the elderly magician, Sanjay, Wesley and Becca. The end of the book is fast paced and tense with a really good ending.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy and voluntarily provided this review. The Glass Thief is a complex mystery with many layers to it. The story takes Jaya from San Fransisco, to France and finally to Cambodia, all the while trying to solve a locked room mystery. Very interesting historical information about artifacts from Cambodia and India woven into the story. Lots of interesting characters; Lane and his background, Sebastien the elderly magician, Sanjay, Wesley and Becca. The end of the book is fast paced and tense with a really good ending.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy and voluntarily provided this review.

The Glass Thief is a complex mystery with many layers to it. The story takes Jaya from San Fransisco, to France and finally to Cambodia, all the while trying to solve a locked room mystery. Very interesting historical information about artifacts from Cambodia and India woven into the story. Lots of interesting characters; Lane and his background, Sebastien the elderly magician, Sanjay, Wesley and Becca. The end of the book is fast paced and tense with a really good ending.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy and voluntarily provided this review. The Glass Thief is a complex mystery with many layers to it. The story takes Jaya from San Fransisco, to France and finally to Cambodia, all the while trying to solve a locked room mystery. Very interesting historical information about artifacts from Cambodia and India woven into the story. Lots of interesting characters; Lane and his background, Sebastien the elderly magician, Sanjay, Wesley and Becca. The end of the book is fast paced and tense with a really good ending.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy and voluntarily provided this review. The Glass Thief is a complex mystery with many layers to it. The story takes Jaya from San Fransisco, to France and finally to Cambodia, all the while trying to solve a locked room mystery. Very interesting historical information about artifacts from Cambodia and India woven into the story. Lots of interesting characters; Lane and his background, Sebastien the elderly magician, Sanjay, Wesley and Becca. The end of the book is fast paced and tense with a really good ending.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy and voluntarily provided this review.

Which Classic Mystery Should You Read Next?

I just came across this short fun quiz sponsored by Poisoned Pen Press.

"There’s something timeless about a great murder mystery novel, isn’t there? The driving forces behind most of these crimes are always personal, meaning that no matter when the book was written (or set), it still resonates with readers today. Whether mysteries are your go-to comfort read or a new genre you’re hoping to explore, it’s never not a good idea to check out a classic title. Take our classic mystery quiz to help you find an older mystery novel you’re sure to love!"

Go to this link and then close the ad in the box below and the quiz is available. You have to keep closing the ad every couple of slides (ugh). There are questions about what type of story and main character you prefer.

My recommended book based on my choices is 

Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada

About: "The Crooked House sits on a snowbound cliff at the remote northern tip of Japan. A curious place to build a house, but even more curious is the house itself - a maze of sloping floors and strange staircases, full of bloodcurdling masks and uncanny dolls. When a guest is found murdered in seemingly impossible circumstances, the police are called. But they are unable to solve the puzzle, and more bizarre deaths follow.
Enter Kiyoshi Mitarai, the renowned sleuth. Surely if anyone can crack these cryptic murders it is him. But you have all the clues too - can you solve the mystery of the murders in The Crooked House first?"

I have never heard of this but it sounds pretty good. Will add to my TBR pile.

Find your mystery here: 

https://bookriot.com/2019/10/24/classic-mystery-quiz/

I have several books going and finished and will share next week. 

Took a detour

I took a detour from mysteries for a few weeks. I think that was enough. I validated that I really prefer mysteries, with an occasional historical fiction thrown it.

• First, I listened to All The Forgiveness by Elizabeth Hardinger.

About: "Set in Appalachia and the Midwest at the turn of the twentieth century, this exquisite debut novel paints an intimately rendered portrait of one resilient farm family's challenges and hard-won triumphs--helmed by an unforgettable heroine.

Growing up on their hardscrabble farm in rural Kentucky, fifteen-year-old Albertina "Bertie" Winslow has learned a lot from her mama, Polly. She knows how to lance a boil, make a pie crust, butcher a pig, and tend to every chore that needs doing. What she doesn't know, but is forced to reckon with all too soon, is how to look after children as a mother should ...

When Polly succumbs to a long illness, Bertie takes on responsibility for her four younger siblings and their dissolute, unreliable daddy. Yet no matter how hard she tries to hold the family together, the task is overwhelming. Nine-year-old Dacia, especially, is resentful and stubborn, hinting at secrets in their mama's life. Finally, Bertie makes the only choice she can--breaking up the family for its own survival, keeping the girls with her, sending the boys off to their grown brothers, long gone from home."

An online book club I follow was going to discuss it so I thought I would listen to it and participate. Well I didn't get to participate. They had the discussion during the work day and I couldn't. It was a good story, but those people had a really rough time.

• I also read a draft of a Historical Fiction for a relative. I don't want to say too much in case it doesn't or does get published. But it is set in the late 1700's - early 1800's and is based on true events. He asked me if I would read it just to see if it flowed and made sense. It will be good. Again, rough lives. When it gets published I will give it a plug here.
• I read a draft of a short "how to" book for the same person. Again I don't want to give anything away. 

• Just finishing Shadow is a Colour as Light Is by Michael Langan. This was a read and review.

About: "And for the characters in this multifaceted novel, the painter’s work is of crucial significance.

In Hong Kong, will billionaire art collector Walter and his son ever be reconciled? In Liverpool, will artist Nick find peace? In New York, can Joel and Sophie mend their relationship with the help of Cézanne’s work in the Metropolitan Museum?

Through these multiple narratives Michael Langan deftly explores human relationships and asks: can art ever save us?"

So far off from what I usually read that...yeah no. But you might like it. I did receive a free copy.

• I did read a mystery: Cliff Hanger by Mary Feliz

About: "When a hang-gliding stranger is found fatally injured in the cliffs above Monterey Bay, the investigation into his death becomes a cluttered mess. Professional organizer Maggie McDonald must sort the clues to catch a coastal killer before her family becomes a target . . .
 
Maggie has her work cut out for her helping Renée Alvarez organize her property management office. Though the condominium complex boasts a prime location on the shores of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, aging buildings and the high-maintenance tenants have Renée run ragged. But Maggie’s efforts are complicated when her sons attempt to rescue a badly injured man who crashed his ultra-light on the coastal cliffs.
 
Despite their efforts to save him, the man dies. Maggie's family members become the prime suspects in a murder investigation and the target of a lawsuit. Her instincts say something’s out of place, but solving a murder won’t be easy. Maggie still needs to manage her business, the pushy press, and unwanted interest from criminal elements. Controlling chaos is her specialty, but with this killer’s crime wave, Maggie may be left hanging."

Cute cover right? I hadn't read any of the other four books in the series. It was a good story. Each chapter starts with an organizational tip. They were all related to traveling. Those were interesting and useful. I also received a free copy of the book through the Cozy Review Crew. 

So....I am ready to get back to my mysteries. 

Check out TCM channel for Halloween themed movies. There are several on tonight and will be shown again before the end of the month.

The Black Cat, Curse of the Demon, The Seventh Victim, The Devil's Bride, The Blood on Satan's Claw (gross), Dracula 1972 version and several others.

The week of 10/14: The Haunting and Poltergiest are on - 10/17. Once was enough for me for Poltergiest. 

You can check out the schedule for the month here. Most of there "scary" movies are on at night.

www.tcm.com

What was the scariest movie you have seen? Here are my top three.

Exorcist
Poltergiest
The Shining

I saw them all when they came out. Never watched them again. 

I will leave you with this Dracula

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9iIf4tFoyE

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

 For our October Mystery Book Club we are read any Shirley Jackson book.

Shirley Jackson's most famous book is The Haunting of Hill House. I chose We Have Always Lived in the Castle, because I am very familiar with The Haunting.

About: 
"My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise, I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cap mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead."

That is quite a spooky cover isn't it.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is the story of two sisters living with their uncle in an old dark house that has been in the family for many generations. Constance, Mary Catherine (Merricat), Uncle Julian and Mary's cat, Jonas make up the household. The sister's parents and aunt were poisoned in the house at dinner six years ago. Uncle Julian survived the poisoning but was left in a wheelchair with memory issues and issues with reality. Constance was tried for murder becausae she had cooked the dinner. She was found not guilty. Now the three live in the house with as little contact with the outside world as possible. Uncle Julian lives in a world of his own, working on a book about the deaths, day after day. Constance is the eldest of the two sisters, and does the cooking with things from her garden. She has many fears about the villagers and never goes beyond the property. Merricat is the one that goes to the village once a week to get what they need. Merricat has some odd rituals; delusions, magical thinking? The characters are all very strange. Constance takes care of Julian. If you pay attention, you will see moments of lucidity in Julian. Mary swears "to be kinder to Uncle Julian" almost daily. Their cousin Charles shows up to help them, uninvited and unwelcome by Merricat. The story is told by Mary and it is quite disturbing to see her thinking. Hints of what might have happened to the rest of the family are woven into the story. 

Several in the group read it and all agreed there was some things that were not clear; why the poisoning, what is wrong with Mary and Constance. Someone mentioned there was a movie made of the book and it is on Netflix. I watched it as soon as I got home.

Here is the description on IMDB: "Merricat, Constance and their Uncle Julian live in isolation after experiencing a family tragedy six years earlier. When cousin Charles arrives to steal the family fortune, he also threatens a dark secret they've been hiding."

Hmmm. The movie was pretty true to the book. The actors were mostly unknown to me. Taissa Farmiga plays Merricat. She does an excellent job of portraying her as a misfit, weird and disturbed. Alexandra Daddario plays Constance. Very good job of portraying a young woman trying to keep it together. Crispin Glover is Uncle Julian. I do know him. He looks very different in the movie. Sebastian Stan is Cousin Charles. 

The movie has a different ending. It suggests what is behind the sisters' issues and the poisonings. It also offers a different ending which was more final.

Interestingly, Michael Douglas was the Executive Producer and Laurence Hyman, Shirley Jackson's son, as Assistant Executive Producer.  

I found the story to be pretty creepy and perfect for the Halloween season. 

Let's talk about Dark Shadows

Do you remember the original t.v. show, Dark Shadows? Did you watch it?

I did. Confession. I own the complete series box set. I am on episode 807 of 1245 episodes. I don't "binge watch" it. I don't even watch episodes every week or every month. Just whenever I am in the mood.

Why talk about it? Well, guess what? The CW network is working on a pilot for Dark Shadows: Reincarnation. Yay! I found this out on Face Book. Of course. There is a Dark Shadows FB page called The CHS Drawing Room - The Collinsport Historical Society Drawing Room. Seems like a good Halloween topic too.

So let's back up.

The show ran from 1966 - 1971. It was in a soap opera slot I think about 3:30 on ABC. If you read anything about it, you will often see that kids "ran home from school" to watch it. That was true for me. I don't think I saw it in the beginning but when I was in 8th grade, my best friend and I would get off the bus and run to her house to watch it. She says now that "she doesn't really remember it", but I think she doesn't want to admit it. Her older sister would make "oooo oooo" ghost noises from other parts of the house. Now we weren't scared by it. In fact a lot of times we laughed and laughed. There were plenty of bloopers, missed lines and really cheap special effects. Very campy. That is what has created the cult following it has.

About: "The story of Dark Shadows begins with newly hired governess Victoria Winters arriving at Collinwood, the Collins' estate in Collinsport, Maine in search of her mysterious origins. She soon is caught up in the strange events and mysteries that seem to surround the Collins family. Eventually, the Collins' "cousin from England", Barnabas Collins, arrives and takes the show in a new direction; his vampire curse introduces a new history of the Collins family. Part of this revised history is the popular character of the witch Angelique whose jealously led to the tragic death of Barnabas' great love Josette and who placed the curse upon Barnabas."

What was so great about this series, is there were so many famous stories that were played out. When the series first started, it was more of a dark soap opera; Victoria Winters comes to the house to be a governess. The man of the house, Roger, is an alchoholic. I think he even killed someone while drunk driving. This didn't go over very big, and the series went gothic and supernatural.

Some of the story lines were Dracula, Frankenstein, Frankenstein's Bride, The Werewolf, Dorian Gray, the Salem witch trials, a Phoenix and plenty of ghost stories.

There were some well known actors in the series also.  

• Joan Bennet played Elizabeth Collins, the matriarch of Collinwood. You know Joan Bennet.
• Jonathan Frid played Barnabas Collins, the reluctant vampire. He was a theatre trained actor and played on Broadway.
• Luis Edmond was Roger Collins, Elizabeth's brother and the "man of the house".  He also was in numerous plays but if you also were an All My Children fan, you remember him as Langley Wallingford.
• Grayson Hall played Julia Hoffman, the doctor that is always trying to cure the vampire and has a crush on him. She was nominated for an Acadamy Award for her performance in Night of the Iguana in 1964.
• David Selby was Quentin Collins. He plays the werewolf at times. He was on Falcon Crest. He was the heart throb of the show.
• Nancy Barret was Carolyn Stoddard the daughter of Elizabeth. (Elizabeth buried Carolyn's father in the basement). She was also on The Doctors and Ryans Hope
• Denise Nickerson was Amy, one of the children that comes and goes. I think the kids were on more in the summer. She is famous for the girl on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that turns blue and blows up like a blueberry.
• Thayer David: Several roles. He was in Journey to the Center of the Earth and Rocky.
• Kate Jackson: You know her from Charlie's Angels and various movies
• Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker, Jerry Lacey, David Henesy....the list goes on.

No one ever went to work, no one ever ate (expect in the vary beginning of the series, lol), they were always up in the middle of the night, and it was always thundering. So fun.

There were a couple of movies based on the series in the 70's that were o.k. There was a Dark Shadows: Revival in the 80's but I didn't like it. Maybe the original series was too fresh in my memory. The SciFi channel used to run the series at that time. Then there was the Dark Shadows movie by Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I actually kind of liked it. Many didn't. Three of the original case had a cameo. 

The director was Dan Curtis. Two of his daughters are on the Dark Shadows: Resurrection project. 

I can't wait!

A spooky book and a spooky challenge

Trying to get in the Fall spirit, even though it is still 100 degrees. The end of next week looks promising but I don't want to jinx it.

A few weeks ago I listened to The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. I had read her book, In a Dark, Dark Wood and loved it. So when this popped up in Audible last month, I chose it.

About: "When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

 Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is."

This is a psychological thriller and downright spooky, especially as an audio book. Imogen Church is the narrator. She is really, really good at different voices and sound effects. 

One of the girls she is in charge of, sets this up as a ghost story right away, warning Rowan not to accept the post, that "the ghosts won't like it". Rowan is left with the girls, alone, for a week on her second day. What kind of parents would do this? And then there is an older girl away at boarding school, due home any day. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. There is a maid who pops in for a couple of hours. She doesn't like Rowan. The handyman lives in what was a stable across the way. He seems nice. There are lots of ominous notes, signs and noises. 

There are many of twists and turns. I know that sounds cliché, but as the story progresses and you think you are coming to the end of the mystery, something is divulged that is a complete surprise. Now we are at the end. Or are we?

I really liked this book. I like Ruth Ware. But I had a couple of questions that weren't answered to my satisfaction. Maybe that is part of the mystique. I may have to listen to it again. It seems like one of those that is good enough to read or listen to again and you may catch some things you missed.

How about this? RIP 14. 

It is a book challenge for all things, mystery, suspense, gothic, thriller etc. for the Halloween season. I saw this on my book friend Kay's blog. (Kay has a really good blog with lots and lots of mysteries of all kinds.)

Here is a link to her blog and more about the RIP challenge.

https://kaysreadinglife.blogspot.com/2019/09/rip-xiv-reading-challenge-lets-get.html

Some book challenges seem daunting and I don't typically do them. Read 50 books in one month and write and essay on each. Well, maybe not that bad but some seem that way. This book challenge looks doable and fun. There are levels of "peril" from reading one book that fits the category to four books, or something on screen, or short stories and more. Looks fun.

Here's the link.

https://readersimbibingperil.com/

The Escape Artist - Brad Meltzer

Our Mystery Book Club read The Escape Artist for our September book.



About: "Two hours outside of Washington, DC is the mortuary for the U.S. government's most top-secret and high profile cases. America's most important funeral home. To work there, mortician Jim "Zig" Zigarowski has one rule: never let a case get personal. But when a new body arrives--of young female sergeant Nola Brown, who was a childhood friend of Zig's daughter--Zig can't help himself. Looking closely at Nola's body, he realizes immediately: this isn't Nola. Indeed, his daughter's friend is still alive. And on the run. Zig's discovery reveals a sleight of hand being played at the highest levels of power--and traces back through history to a man named Harry Houdini. "Nola, you were right. Keep running."

The story takes place mostly in Dover, Delaware. This is where all fallen soldiers and others from  events such as 911, come. There is a lot of interesting, factual information woven into the story about the base in Dover. I know that this is where the remains of recently returned POW's were sent. A relative of a relative is working on that DNA project to identify the remains.

Once Zig realizes Nola is still alive, and that there is something big is going on, a cover up perhaps, he decides to find Nola. Following her tracks, he gets into some serious perdicaments. We also follow Nola who seems to be on a mission.

Nola reminded me in some ways of Lizbeth Salander in the Dragon Tatoo series. She is a person who is a survivor and has depended on herself her whole life. She has developed incredible skills as a result. 

All in all, I really liked the book. The writing is straight forward. It is a thriller, it moves fast, lots of action and suspense. Many of the characters are not who they seem.

Most of the group liked it. Some felt there were a few questions unanswered that they wanted answered. I believe a sequel is in the works. I would read it.

I was familiar with Brad Meltzer through his T.V. show, Decoded. We watched it regularly. It was about possible conspiracies and getting to the bottom of them. I don't remember if any were solved, but it was an entertaining show. I had never read any of his books. I guess I didn't realize he wrote fiction. I was pleasantly surprised.

You can learn more about Brad here: http://bradmeltzer.com