Murder on the Golden Arrow by Magda Alexander

 I was sent this book as an ARC and just finished it. (Yes, after the publication date. 😞) I really liked it.

About: "England. 1923. After a year away at finishing school where she learned etiquette, deportment, and the difference between a salad fork and a fish one, Kitty Worthington is eager to return home. But minutes after she and her brother Ned board the "Golden Arrow," the unthinkable happens. A woman with a mysterious connection to her brother is poisoned, and the murderer can only be someone aboard the train.

When Scotland Yard hones in on Ned as the main suspect, Kitty sets out to investigate. Not an easy thing to do while juggling the demands of her debut season and a mother intent on finding a suitable, aristocratic husband for her.

With the aid of her maid, two noble beaus, and a flatulent Basset Hound named Sir Winston, Kitty treads a fearless path through the glamorous world of high society and London’s dark underbelly alike to find the murderer. For if she fails, the insufferable Inspector Crawford will most surely hang a noose around her brother’s neck.

A frolicking historical cozy mystery filled with dodgy suspects, a dastardly villain, and an intrepid heroine sure to win your heart, Murder on the Golden Arrow is the first book in The Kitty Worthington Mysteries. For lovers of Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey alike."

I would add for lovers of Scarlett and the Duke which was on PBS earlier this year. 

I thought it was very well written, grabbing my interest right away. The author does a great job of taking us through the solving of the mystery, sharing bits and pieces as it all escalates towards the end. Besides a great story, I like the historical aspects; describing Kitty going to finishing school, what is now expected of her, being presented to society, obtaining the right wardrobe, who may be an appropriate husband (after all that is what finishing school is for isn't it?), the dinners, the parties...I have always been interested in that time period, reading what life was like. This is a good look into London high society in 1923.

The second book in the series, Murder at Westminster, is coming out June 3, 2022. I was ready to read it. Will have to wait.

About the author: 

"Magda Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of several books, including the popular STORM DAMAGES series. She's equally at home writing historical mysteries and sexy contemporary romances. When she's not glued to her laptop writing her next book, Magda loves to bake and try out new recipes in her Instant Pot. A lifelong learner, Magda earned her degree from the University of Maryland and now resides in a Maryland city whose history dates back to colonial times."

Visit Magda Alexander website at: https://www.magdaalexander.com/

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The Girl From Widow Hills by Megan Miranda

 Our Mystery Book Club read The Girl From Widow Hills for our October selection. 

We were able to meet in a park in the evening again, although a little earlier since we are loosing daylight earlier. We had nine that attended. Not they usual 15-20 when we meet in in person but a good number to have decent discussion. We actually only had about that many attend when we did virtual meetings. The weather is pretty nice here right now, so it is good to get outside. 

 

About: "Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a terrifying rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up search parties and held vigils, praying for her safe return. Against all odds, she was found, alive, clinging to a storm drain. The girl from Widow Hills was a living miracle. Arden’s mother wrote a book. Fame followed. Fans and fan letters, creeps, and stalkers. And every year, the anniversary. It all became too much. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye.

Now a young woman living hundreds of miles away, Arden goes by Olivia. She’s managed to stay off the radar for the last few years. But with the twentieth anniversary of her rescue approaching, the media will inevitably renew its interest in Arden. Where is she now? Soon Olivia feels like she’s being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even waking outside her home. Until late one night she jolts awake in her yard. At her feet is the corpse of a man she knows—from her previous life, as Arden Maynor.

And now, the girl from Widow Hills is about to become the center of the story, once again, in this propulsive page-turner from suspense master Megan Miranda."

I thought it was pretty good. I did wish for more of the back story at the beginning but that is told during each chapter with a news article from the past. It is a page turner, quick read. The tension escalates as the story goes on. We are wondering if Olivia is mentally unstable, or is everyone around her. There are several characters that I questioned there motives and behavior. Several "bad idea" moments for me. The ending was a little confusing to me.

What the group thought: There was actually mixed reviews. I would say half liked it also and actually wanted more at the end, hoping for a follow up book or at least another chapter. Some thought it was ok and a couple did not like it, thinking it was confusing and not plausible. One person had brought another book by the author with her that she had started. 

One thing that struck me and one other person mention was that it reminded me of Baby Jessica from 1987. A true event that happened in West Texas. Jessica was 18 months old and fell into an open well accidently. It took 56 hours to get her out. The story consumed the news here. I remember that it felt longer than 56 hrs. There are a couple similarities to that story and this book. We wondered if the author drew on some of that story. You can read her story in Wiki if interested.

 

Murder at Sea Captain's Inn, Onyx Webb: The Ghost Circus/Kindle Vela, A Lost Claus, All The Light We Cannot See

Well...looks like September was a baaaad reading month. And it all happened so fast. That old story of a coworker retired and wasn't replaced and another one retires tomorrow - so why don't you all split up the work etc. etc. Luckily someone realized this is not going to work and they are planning on hiring, but meanwhile....

Looking at back at my Goodreads account where I track my books, I read one novel, two short books and listened to one novel- not even a mystery. Hmpf.

Murder at Sea Captain's Inn is the 2nd in the Book Magic Mystery series by Melissa Bourbon. I received it as an ARC. I had read the first book and like it a lot. I like to read something fun after some serious mysteries.

About: "Pippin Lane Hawthorne’s grand opening of Sea Captain’s Inn is tainted when a scholar studying the Lost Colony of Roanoke is brutally murdered. Like the black crow that hangs around the old house, could the untimely death be a harbinger of dark things to come? When her twin brother, Grey, begins bucking the curse by risking his life in the waters of the Outer Banks, Pippin lives in terror that he’ll be the next Lane male to be swallowed by the sea. Now she must use her gift of bibliomancy to save her brother, solve the murder, and end a two thousand year old pact." 

I like the underlying thread of a family curse. The Lane's are an old Irish fishing family with some interesting folklore. I love the idea of bibliomancy. It is a real thing, not really like how it is portrayed in this series. 

Wiki: Bibliomancy is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses) for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world.

My thoughts: Everything is looking up for Pippin and Grey (after book 1). The Sea Captain's Inn renovation as a B&B is complete and the first guests are expected any minute. Grey has ventured out on his own and is starting up a wood working business. Pippin has found a great employee in Zoe, to help with the day to day running of the Inn. And the best is Pippin's rescue of Sailor the dog. The opening coincides with an archaeological dig in the area for things associated with Sir Walter Raleigh's quest to colonize. One of her guests is in town for the dig. Dr. Baxter is quite odd with several "demands" for her stay. A married couple also at the Inn, is interesting and quite busy site seeing. One other single man rounds out the first guests. He keeps to himself. The story progresses with someone being murdered at the Inn. A significant archaeological item find in Pippin's safe, and a strange man with clear eyes showing up and disappearing. He is quite unnerving. Someone has broken into Pippin's private room and she seems to be in danger. An ongoing thread from book one is Pippin using her gift of bibliomancy to try to find out how to stop the curse of the Lane family.  We learn more about the locals in Devils's Cove. Jamie the bookstore owner and his family. Ruby the owner of the local winery. We also learn more about the very interesting family history of the Lane family. Sneak peek at book three looks to be very interesting.

Do you remember a few years ago I read the Onyx Webb series? The authors have a sequel on the new Kindle Vella platform. What is that?

Kindle Vella is a new Amazon platform, "a new way to read serialized stories by your favorite authors. Kindle Vella short episodes go with the breaks in your day." You unlock each episode with "tokens". 200 tokens cost $1.99. I can't remember how many episodes or tokens it took to read The Ghost Circus. Maybe because I was a first time user of the product, I had 150 free tokens and then had to purchase more at the end. But the fee was nominal.

Anyhoo, I was happy to read more about Onyx. 

About: A ragtag traveling circus sits outside a small California town. 200 miles to the north, the myth of the ghost woman, Onyx Webb, is alive and well in the seaside hamlet of Crimson Cove, Oregon. After mysterious deaths occur in both places, the FBI gets involved. When the circus relocates to Crimson Cove, FBI agent Newt Drystad arrives just as the entire town is starting to unravel. It's one thing to stop people from committing crimes, but how do you stop a ghost?" 

What I said:   Everyone loves a circus. Problem with this circus is, the performers are all ghosts? Familiar characters from the original series are back; Onyx and Noah, Newt, Pippi, the Sheriff and even Ulrich "makes an appearance". I love how the story is paranormal but throws in real, contemporary things, computer technology, and the FBI (better look closely there).

I don't want to say too much and spoil anything. If you like quirky paranormal and quick reads, try the Onyx Webb series. Good time of year for it. :)

A Lost Claus is the 3rd in Mona Marple's Christmas Cozy series. Barely over 100 pages, it is a novella.

About: As Christmas approaches in Candy Cane Hollow, it's time for the annual Claus Family ice fishing trip.

Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is a ball of nerves about meeting all of Nick Claus' relatives, until the trip ends in disaster.

One Claus doesn't return home, and as everyone begins to fear the worst, an old grudge between the Lost Claus and Nick makes his actions look suspicious. 

Can Holly get to the truth, before anyone else is hurt?"

My thoughts: A Lost Claus is a fun holiday book to read but with a mystery. As Holly and Nick get more serious into their relationship, it is time to meet the Claus family. Father Christmas, Mrs. Claus, uncles and nieces and nephews. The large family gathering brings out the good and bad in the family. Yes even the Claus family has its ups and downs. An annual fishing trip turns deadly. Holly once again investigates and has some doubts if this is the family for her to join. 

And finally I listened to:

About: "Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. 

In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.

From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the stunningly beautiful instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II."

This is not a mystery and was recommended by a friend. It is good story about survival during terrible times: WWII. Parts of it are not easy and I suspect they really happened. It didn't really end like I wanted but again, that's how things probably went. I call these stories Oregon Trail books. Do you remember that computer game from the 90's? The character/pioneers s were traveling the Oregon Trail and one thing after the other happened to them and you wondered how anyone ever made it.

Tomorrow our Mystery Book Club meets again in a park. We read The Girl From Widow Hills by Megan Miranda. I will let you know how we liked it.

The Survivors by Jane Harper and our first in person Mystery Book Club meeting

 For our Mystery Book Club selection for September, we read:

The Survivors by Jane Harper. 

We had read two other books by this author in the group and all really liked them.

About; 

"Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences.

The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home.

Kieran's parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between them all is his absent brother, Finn.

When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away." 

A little more info: Kieran is now married and has a baby daughter. He has brought his family back to town to help his parents pack up the house and move: his father has a dementia and needs to be moved to a facility that can care for him, his mother to a smaller place close to where his father will be.

When Kieran was a teen ager, he got himself into a situation, that he knowingly put himself in danger. He almost drown. His brother and friend did drown. Many people in town, especially the family of the friend, blame Kieran. 

When a college student, working in town for the summer, is found dead on the beach, many memories and accusations are brought back to life.

The story goes back and forth between the time of "the accident" many years ago and the current time. We read about the full story of things that happened in the past.

There are several promising suspects for the death of the college student. The author steers us to many different scenarios of what happened then and now.

The ending was a surprise to me and changed how I felt about the story actually. 

Our book club met in person at a park this past week and talked about The Survivors. All liked the book. Some did not like how the story went back and forth in different time periods. Some said they liked The Dry and Memory Man better, but did like this book.

Our Mystery Book Club met, as I said, this past week in a park. First time since March 2020. We had nine people, about half of our full group. But that was pretty good seeing as how "The Thing" is still lurking here where we live. 

This was an experiment. We still can't meet at the library. So after going over options with one member, she suggested a neighborhood park. It worked pretty well. The area I had  hoped to claim, was being used by kids playing soccer or tennis. But we did claim another table under trees with two benches. Some people brought chairs. It was good to see everyone. Some did not attend the virtual meetings we had. Not everyone does virtual. We even had a new person. It was really hot! I bet it was still in the low 90's at 7 p.m. I was impressed and happy that that many people were brave enough to come out in the heat. Did I mention mosquitos? But all said they thought it was a good choice and will plan on attending next month. One person compared it to a scout troop from childhood, that lost their meeting place at one point. They also met in a park after that until a church offered for them to meet there. 

The moral of the story was: If you don't keep the group together and allow it to disband all together for a period of time, it probably will not come back.

 

Revisiting Louise Penny

 A friend of mine, new to Louise Penny, called me in shock at the outcome of book five in the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. 

The Brutal Telling 

"Chaos is coming, old son.

With those words the peace of Three Pines is shattered.

Everybody goes to Olivier's Bistro - including a stranger whose murdered body is found on the floor. When Chief Inspector Gamache is called to investigate, he is dismayed to discover that Olivier's story is full of holes. Why are his fingerprints all over the cabin that's uncovered deep in the wilderness, with priceless antiques and the dead man's blood? And what other secrets and layers of lies are buried in the seemingly idyllic village?

Gamache follows a trail of clues and treasures - from first editions of Charlotte's Web and Jane Eyre to a spiderweb with a word mysteriously woven in it - into the woods and across the continent before returning to Three Pines to confront the truth and the final, brutal telling."

A shocking thing happed and my friend was in disbelief. Well, I didn't believe it. I couldn't remember if I read that book. I thought I had read them all but I was thinking maybe I skipped over a couple of the earlier ones. I was pretty sure I knew the outcome though, so without saying anything, I listened to book six: 

Bury Your Dead

"It is Winter Carnival in Quebec City, bitterly cold and surpassingly beautiful. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache has come not to join the revels but to recover from an investigation gone hauntingly wrong. But violent death is inescapable, even in the apparent sanctuary of the Literary and Historical Society - where an obsessive historian's quest for the remains of the founder of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain, ends in murder. Could a secret buried with Champlain for nearly 400 years be so dreadful that someone would kill to protect it?

Although he is supposed to be on leave, Gamache cannot walk away from a crime that threatens to ignite long-smoldering tensions between the English and the French. Meanwhile, he is receiving disquieting letters from the village of Three Pines, where beloved Bistro owner Olivier was recently convicted of murder. 

"It doesn't make sense," Olivier's partner writes every day. "He didn't do it, you know." As past and present collide in this astonishing novel, Gamache must relive the terrible event of his own past before he can bury his dead."

I didn't remember this book at all, so I was glad I listened to it. Just as good as all of the books in the series, we follow Gamache as he tries to heal from the events that took place in the previous book - a very traumatic experience, mentally and physically. He tries to have time to relax and reflect with Henri, his dog, but gets asked to help with a local incident that occurs. Meanwhile back in Three Pines, Gamache has asked Jean Guy to look more into what happened to Olivier. Ruth gave me plenty of laughs in what is a serious and somber mystery.

If you haven't delved in to Inspector Gamache and the Three Pines series, I highly recommend it. It is an excellent traditional mystery series. 

Book 17; The Madness of Crowds comes out August 24, 2001! 

"You’re a coward.

Time and again, as the New Year approaches, that charge is leveled against Armand Gamache.

It starts innocently enough.

While the residents of the Québec village of Three Pines take advantage of the deep snow to ski and toboggan, to drink hot chocolate in the bistro and share meals together, the chief inspector finds his holiday with his family interrupted by a simple request.

He’s asked to provide security for what promises to be a non-event. A visiting professor of statistics will be giving a lecture at the nearby university.

While he is perplexed as to why the head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec would be assigned this task, it sounds easy enough. That is until Gamache starts looking into Professor Abigail Robinson and discovers an agenda so repulsive he begs the university to cancel the lecture.

They refuse, citing academic freedom, and accuse Gamache of censorship and intellectual cowardice. Before long, Professor Robinson’s views start seeping into conversations. Spreading and infecting. So that truth and fact, reality and delusion are so confused it’s near impossible to tell them apart.

Discussions become debates, debates become arguments, which turn into fights. As sides are declared, a madness takes hold.    

Abigail Robinson promises that, if they follow her, ça va bien aller. All will be well. But not, Gamache and his team know, for everyone.

When a murder is committed it falls to Armand Gamache, his second-in-command Jean-Guy Beauvoir, and their team to investigate the crime as well as this extraordinary popular delusion.

And the madness of crowds."

You Belong To Me by Mary HIggins Clark

 I chose You Belong To Me by Mary Higgins Clark as my book for our Mystery Book Club theme of books set on a cruise, inn or hotel. 

About: 

"A killer who targets lonely women on cruise ships is at the center of Mary Higgins Clark's newest thriller "You Belong to Me," a masterful combination of page-turning suspense and classic mystery.
When Dr. Susan Chandler decides to use her daily radio talk show to explore the phenomenon of women who disappear and are later found to have become victims of killers who prey on the lonely and insecure, she has no idea that she is exposing herself -- and those closest to her -- to the very terror that she hopes to warn others against.

Susan sets out to determine who is responsible for an attempt on the life of a woman who called in to the show offering information on the mysterious disappearance from a cruise ship, years before, of Regina Clausen, a wealthy investment advisor. Soon Susan finds herself in a race against time, for not only does the killer stalk these lonely women, but he seems intent on eliminating anyone who can possibly further Susan's investigation.

As her search intensifies, Susan finds herself confronted with the realization that one of the men who have become important figures in her life might actually be the killer. And as she gets closer to uncovering his identity, she realizes almost too late that the hunter has become the hunted, and that she herself is marked for murder."

 I really liked this book. I hadn't picked up this author in many years but remembered I really liked her. I think the book was a real page turner, lots of suspense and kept me guessing. There were several good prospects as the killer, so it kept you thinking and sorting out the clues. 

Originally published in 1998, there aren't really any things that jump out and say "old". It was as suspenseful as any current books. Not of lot of time references. There was a mention of a cell phone, but also answering machines. That was the only clue as to the year.

I see I have a couple other books by Mary Higgins Clark on my shelf that I have kept. Glad I kept them.

Hallmark Movies and Mysteries for August 2021 and PBS

 Well here we are, back to square 1 or maybe 2. "Cases" are way up here and it is recommended everyone go back to wearing masks in indoor public places, whether vaccinated or not. Worst yet, our Mystery Book Club was scheduled to meet in person at the library this upcoming week - first time since March 2020. The library system had to rescind their all open planned for 8/2/21. Ugh. My workplace is starting a gradual return to the office, hybrid approach 8/2. I am not scheduled until 8/30/21. Will see how that goes. At least we can get toilet paper at the store.

So what mystery movies are coming up for August? Happy to see Hallmark has three showing this month.

Sunday 8/1/21 8 p.m, c

Mystery 101: Deadly History

"Amy and Travis travel to New York to investigate after Amy's uncle goes missing, and the initial clues make them fear the worst. Starring Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha and Robin Thomas."

8/9/21 8 p.m. c

Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

"As Hannah and Mike experience engaged life while balancing their busy careers, a murder at a 24-hour gym complicates their wedding planning. Starring Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison and Barbara Niven. "

It's been so long since one of these mysteries were on, I forgot Hannah and Mike are engaged. I sure would like to go to her bakery.

8/22/21 8 p.m. c

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Honeymoon, Honeymurder

"While on a "pre-honeymoon" getaway, Aurora and Nick discover a body, and as they get closer to finding out what really happened, danger knocks on their doorstep. Starring Candace Cameron Bure, Niall Matter and Marilu Henner."

I wish it was jacket and hat weather here...

As far as Masterpiece Mystery on PBS, Unforgotten continues in August with three more episodes.

I will share what our Mystery Book Club has been reading lately. Some want to continue by email for now, sharing books and reading books as a group. Fingers crossed this is just a couple more months.