Anna and the Swallow Man / Gavriel Savit / 230 pages / 6 discs

There are many books out there about World War II. Some are written for children while others are for adults. It is rare to have one crossover to where both audiences find gratification.
 The story begins in Krakow, Poland during 1939. The war has affected Anna and her father's lives and they have adjusted. He is still teaching his classes but then is taken. Anna is utterly alone. While waiting in the street for her father to come, a man stops in front of her and asks in several different languages "who are you?"
  This is the Swallow Man - as in the bird - and instinctively Anna trusts him. That is not to say he doesn't scare her but there is a quality to him that gives her hope. The Swallow Man begins his walk out of the city and Anna follows him. There are no words exchanged, no gestures but Anna has decided this man gives her a chance at living.
  What follows are their adventures wandering the countyside of Poland and into the Soviet Union tracking the invading German soldiers. Not all is fun and games. The Swallow Man teaches Anna the rules of staying alive and he also tries to teaches her about life. The plot becomes less important at this time and the journey seems to turn allegorical. The birds, the "Road", the conversations all help Anna toward an ending. What kind of ending? You must read the novel.

6 Degrees of Reading: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse, The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos.

The Star-Touched Queen / Roshani Chokshi / 339 pages / 8 discs

  This novel makes me wish I had a better understanding of Indian mythology and folklore. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but at times I felt I was missing something. Like there was an underlying text that would explain why our heroine Maya did what she did. The author has such wonderful descriptions brought to life by the narrator, Priya Ayyar who brought a world full of sensual mystery. I just wasn't sure I was catching the entire story.
   We meet Maya who has quite the unfortunate horoscope. Her marriage will be one of death and destruction. Her suitors are few to none and the harem where she resides view her with distaste and suspicion. She loses herself in the scrolls of her father's library where she also learns about her father's kingdom by hiding in the rafters above his throne room. The kingdom has been at war and her father has arranged for Maya to marry one of the warring tribes. It is during this ceremony a sneak attack surprises her and Maya is whisked away to safety by Amar, who is a king in his own country.
   What happens next is beautiful, enchanting and awe-inspiring. The pictures brought to mind are spellbinding. This is a great read for someone who likes fantasy, strong female protagonists and adventure in foreign lands.
   The second in the series has been released: A Crown of Wishes

6 Degrees of Reading: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton, And I Darken by Kiersten White, Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones.

Grimm's Fairy Tales / Read by Award Winning Cast / 3 CDs / unabridged

  This audio was recommended quite heavily by Booklist and I couldn't agree more. These 21 tales are the original works of the Grimm brothers - not the Disney-fied movies we know of today. Each are read by a different narrator who provides each one with definite individuality.
  The familiar tales are there: Cinderella, Little Snow-White, Hansel and Gretel but also some lesser known ones The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces (read by Alfred Molina!), The Six Swans (read by Davina Porter) and Rumpelstiltskin (read by Jim Dale!). The tales are divided by a small musical interlude and it helps reset your mind. The tales end abruptly. No 'and the lived happily ever after'. I listened to some of them with my younger son and his comment was "That's not nice". That perfectly fits in with these tales - not very pleasant things happen to some characters and not all of them deserve it. If you are looking for a fun night with younger children, this isn't it.
   Please take the time to listen to these wonderful stories. I cannot recommend it enough. They won't take much time but I bet you will still be thinking about them later.  

6 Degrees of Reading: Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Anderson, Aesop's Fables by Aesop and Myths That Every Child Should Know: A Selection of the Classic Myths of All Times for Young People by Suehyla El Attar.

The Gilded Life of Matilda Duplaine: A Novel / Alex Brunkhorst / 314 pages / 10 discs

   If you have read any my previous postings my penchant for The Great Gatsby is well-known. I have found yet another novel that has been compared to the classic. I should know better but I cannot resist. Mostly the comparisons have failed in my eyes and I am feeling a little ambivalent about Matilda as well.
   Our narrator is an exiled journalist who was accused of plagiarism in New York City. He has fled across the country and is working for the Times in Los Angeles. Thomas Cleary has been sent to collect a quote or two from the daughter of a famous film director. Thomas has been reduced from writing front page news to doing the obituaries in the entertainment section. From that incidental meeting, he is swept into the world of Lily Goldman and her high powered and monied Hollywood friends. He is showered with opportunities that change his lifestyle and work environment.
   During one of these events, he meets a young woman playing tennis at night. He is completely captivated by her beauty and odd sense of the world. Her name is Matilda and she has not been allowed to leave father's estate since she has been born. Her every wish has been catered to by her father. These two go to great lengths to protect their relationship and try to find a way to survive in the world outside of Bel-Air.
   The descriptions of Hollywood, its residents plus the trip to Hawaii was just skillful. I really enjoyed some of the word play

     "We walked out between the gates. They were timed to close quickly behind us-they 
        had secrets to keep after all-and when they did I heard the rattle of iron.
       Then it went silent."

    I recommend this book for the summer beach readers, who like romance, cliff-hangers and just a bit of heartbreak.

6 Degrees of Reading: The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin, Everybody Rise by Stephanie Clifford, The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee

A Deadly Thaw: A Mystery / Sarah Ward / 377 pages

  The second volume in the Detective Sadler series by Sarah Ward. I enjoyed the first one so much I immediately started the second one. Once again the past has come back to haunt not only the police force but also the village of Bampton. In 2004 a woman was convicted of killing her husband. She offered no defense, no reason as to why she committed the crime. She went to prison and served her time. In 2016, her husband was killed again. What is going on?
  Detective Sadler has been charged with finding out the truth. First what happened back in 2004 because it is the belief that will have an affect on the present. His team is back and just as competitive as ever. They have to tread carefully because it looks like the first investigation wasn't handled correctly. The story alternates once again between suspects, interested parties and the police. This is a fast paced plot with a lot of twists. I am in awe of the author who can keep all the different character threads spinning without causing the reader confusion. Excellent mystery.

6 Degrees of Reading: The Trespasser by Tana French, The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris.

In Bitter Chill / Sarah Ward / 314 pages

 In this British police procedural dark secrets have a habit of coming out in the long run. In 1978 two young girls were kidnapped and only one managed to escape. No one was ever arrested and the other girl was never found. Thirty years later, the survivor Rachel has managed to make a life for herself and is trying to live as normally as possible. Unfortunately the past has a way of rearing its ugly head with terrible consequences.
  A first volume in what I hope to be a long series. In the town of Bampton, we have a police force still trying to live down its own past misdeeds. Detective Inspector Francis Sadler has a squad of young officers who are not weighed down by the past. He is asked to look into the recent suicide of a woman who was connected with the kidnapping. Is he going to find anything new to help resolve the long-standing case? In this brilliantly constructed puzzle we follow the police and the suspects through out the investigation, wondering what is a clue, red herring or the true murderer. I loved the twists and turns and the relationships of the characters. It is a fast read with a truly well rewarded and exciting ending. I can't wait to see what else the author Ward has up her sleeve.  

6 Degrees of Reading: Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin, Under the Harrow by Flynn Berry, The Ex by Alafair Burke.

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of THE PRINCESS BRIDE / Cary Elwes / 272 pages / 6 discs

  I had the joy of introducing my husband to THE PRINCESS BRIDE and then we both had the pleasure of showing the movie to our kids. It is one of our favorites and will quote pages of dialogue at each other. This book or CD is a great companion piece for the whole family. The CD has several of the actors telling their personal stories or reactions to what Elwes is describing at that particular time. It is truly a must read/have for movie fans.
  With the movie celebrating its 25th anniversary, the cast gathered for a showing in New York. Elwes was struck by how the actors were reminiscing about favorite lines, fan requests or impact on their professional lives. He decided to put down on paper what this movie meant not only to him personally but the everyone involved. So we have the beginning of the whole affair from the advent of the script(s) to the reception world wide upon release. I didn't realize it but this was the first major film for Robin Wright. Cary Elwes had been in movies but not as the leading man carrying the whole film. I had a smile on my face the entire time I listened to this. What a great trip down memory lane that I will come back to again and again.

6 Degrees of Reading: Young Frankenstein: A Mel Brooks Book: The Story of Making the Film by Mel Brooks, In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem and Fun in the Sandbox by Carol Burnett, My Mother was Nuts by Penny Marshall.

Girl Waits With Gun / Amy Stewart / 408 pages

   I like cozy mysteries and great writing and sometimes it is difficult to get both at the same time. In this novel you get both in spades. Constance Kopp and her two sisters are going to town in their horse drawn buggy when a car collides with them. All survive with bumps and bruises but the buggy is destroyed. Constance gets the name of the driver Henry Kaufman and promptly sends an invoice for a new buggy. This encounter begins their adventures in a world outside of their farm and finding their voice in it.
   The character of Constance is different than most. She is strong-minded, independent, taller than most men and wants to make her own way in the world. The appearance of the county sheriff Robert Heath gives her courage to face the most challenging of obstacles. The two of them working together gives the reader an eye into what it was like for a woman living on her own, without a husband as society dictated and how she was to persist in life. Great historical detail complete with newspaper headlines help round out this wonderful tale. I am looking forward to the next installment.
  I am not giving the secret away but you MUST read the author notes in the afterward - what a wonderful surprise! I heartily recommend this book for mystery readers as well as romance readers.

6 degrees of reading: The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay, Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal, Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.

The Thousand Names: Book 1 of the Shadow Campaigns / Django Wexler / 513 pgs

  I love a good epic fantasy. Something that I can lose myself in and forget about the world. Unfortunately I haven't found a well-written one in a while. But I have now. And it is just awesome.   
 Captain Marcus D'Ivoire has been in the desert country of Khandar for a while looking for a way home. His forces have just been routed in an unexpected uprising and they are encamped in a small fort overlooking the ocean. Marcus has just received orders that a new colonel is on the way.
  Winter Ihernglass is just trying to be unnoticed. The platoon's sergeant has a way of 'helping' his soldiers along that leave bruises. When summoned to the new colonel's tent and receiving a field promotion, Winter must try to find the strength to lead the men against impossible odds. These are only two of several story lines through out the book.
  There is a feel of old style swashbuckling with swords and muskets but also the use of magic has added a different texture. This is a book that would appeal to the military/adventure reader who loves tactics and the thrill of battle. Then there is the fantasy element with the supernatural abilities of the Steel Ghost, what are the 'thousand names' and what about the priestess who saves Winter's life. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and look forward to reading the second one. I did listen to this and heartily recommend it to you. The narrator is Richard Poe and he gives everyone a distinct voice so the characters remain recognizable. It is 18 discs but once you get started, time will fly by.

6 Degrees of Reading: Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence, The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Thieves) by Scott Lynch, Theft of Swords (Vol 1) by Michael J. Sullivan.

The Burning Air / Erin Kelly / 321pgs / Thriller / Horror

  I was drawn to this book by a review I had found on a blog. The author was talking about books that stayed with him long after it had been finished. This guy was right. Burning Air creeped me out so much that I can't remember it without a shudder.

  The MacBride family is a well-positioned part of Saxby University. They are respected within the community and people look to them for leadership. Then there is Darcy, a small awkward boy who has been tutored by his mother in the hopes of making it into the University on scholarship. Their future depends upon him. Then the unthinkable happens: Darcy isn't given the scholarship and his life is changed forever.
  The book is divided into several narrators. We have Lydia, Sophie, Darcy, Rowan who bring a different view point to the events. What happens to one character is viewed differently by others and interpreted yet again by someone else. This brings the horror of what Darcy does and plans to do to a new level of uncomfortableness. Darcy dedicates his life to bringing the MacBride family to his brand of justice and he goes about it with compelling malevolence.
  There were several times I wanted to stop reading. I was completely unnerved by what Darcy did with his life. He was totally unemotional and amoral about everything. All his energy was directed toward the completion of his goal. A totally unsympathetic character. Anyone who wants a read that needs all the lights on for several days this is it.

6 Degrees of Reading: The House at Midnight by Lucie Whitehouse, The Good Girl by Mary Kubica, The Silent Wife by A.S. Harrison.

The Conspiracy of Us / Maggie Hall / 336 pages / 8 discs

  Who doesn't secretly hope for some royalty in the family line? What little girl doesn't dream she is a lost princess and is waiting for her family to come get her? Avery West has moved frequently in her life. Her mother receives a 'mandate' and then the packing starts again. She longs to settle in one place long enough to make friends and to feel a part of something. At yet another new school, a new boy has attracted her attention. His name is Jack Bishop. Then he does the unthinkable he asks her to prom! When Avery tells her mother the reaction is quite unexpected. Her mother begs her not to leave the house, to stay and pack for the new move. Avery reluctantly promises but after her mother leaves decides "Why not? It is probably my only chance." Little does she know that decision will change the course of her life.
   Turns out Avery's unknown father is part of a secret society that runs the world. He has never met her and has sent Jack to bring Avery to Paris to meet the family. But another family has sent different young man for Avery and his name is Stellan. What happens next is a wild and exciting ride through Paris. A visit to the Prada store, a private airplane ride to Istanbul for a party and a trio of bad guys not far behind relentless in their pursuit of the 'girl with the violet eyes'. There is a puzzle Avery must solve and I found it almost an afterthought. It provided the author the ability to show off some Parisian history. It was a small irritation though. I loved the action in this book. The novel moved quickly and kept the reader guessing as to where they would go next. There is a cliffhanger ending. Be patient as the author hasn't published the second one yet.


Six Degrees of Reading: The Selection by Kiera Cass, The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios.  

Perfect Ruin: The Internment Chronicles Book 1 / Lauren DeStefano / 368 pages / 7 discs

 What if part of the earth had broken off and was floating in the sky? What if the people there thought Earth was something dangerous? What if you had no option? Morgan Stockhour has a caring mother and father. Her older brother is married and lives in the same apartment house. Her father has a job as a police man for Internment and her brother is a writer. That is on the surface. Beneath public perception Morgan is a troubled young lady. Her brother jumped off the Edge and now is blind. Her father and mother have been keeping secrets and it may cost Morgan her life.
  Fortunately Morgan has a betrothed, Basil who understands Morgan better than herself. Morgan also has a best friend Pen, short for Margaret. She has listened to Morgan's thoughts and has advised her to forget them. "It is for the best. You don't want to be singled out." Then the unthinkable happens. A murder with the body left in a public place. Then a second one and the entire city is fearful and wondering where their innocence has gone. Morgan meets the accused and she believes he is innocent. In questioning what the government is doing, Morgan discovers an underground movement and it changes her life and her friends forever.
   This wasn't an easy novel to get into. I had trouble following the narrator and fixing the time and place. That could have been a problem with the author and/or narrator but after the second disc I was considering stopping. I wasn't buying Morgan's innocent act and her voice was a bit annoying. I actually enjoyed her friend Pen a lot more. There was a lot going on in that young lady's head and I wanted to know more about her and what made Pen tick. I wasn't too thrilled with the young men. They seemed to be set dressing but maybe that will change in the next book. This is an interesting difference to all the dark dystopian young adult out there. It is a perfect society that does actually work but the existence of the Edge seems to undermine that said perfect society.

Six Degrees of Reading: MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza, Red Queen by Victoria Areyard, Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

White Ginger / Thatcher Robinson / 289 pages

     I am always looking for a thriller series that doesn't follow the formula. I love kickin' female main characters. The Michael Munroe series (by Taylor Stevens) started that need and wanted another one. I do believe I have found it. Bai Jiang (by chang) lives and works in San Francisco. She is a people finder, a souxun  (so-SOON) who works mostly out of Chinatown. Her life is rather complicated as her grandfather is head of the Chinese triad but Bai isn't part of that world. At least she is trying real hard to stay out of it.

     A young girl is taken from her family and Bai is contacted. After following the tangled trail given by the young lady's family, Bai is taken down some very dark and very dangerous paths. We see part of the slave and drug trades plus what power the Chinese have in certain cities. Bai tries very hard to maintain her calm and professionalism but as the twists and turns deepen she knows she must call upon her family ties to help find the girl and protect her family no matter what.

     This isn't a novel for the cozy set. We have violence, graphic scenes, language and yes, sex. In my opinion it fits. Bai inhabits a world that isn't commonplace middle America. It is exciting and very dangerous and very addicting. We are immersed in a world most of the public chooses not to see. Bai is the person who straddles both, struggling to maintain her Buddhist beliefs and to give her daughter a normal life. I highly recommend this for adrenaline junkies and lovers of "quick moving work it out later" novels. I can't wait for the next one. Bai Jiang is a character to watch. In case you were wondering white ginger is the translation of Bai Jiang in certain Chinese dialects. 

Six Degrees of Reading: The Informationist: A Vanessa Michael Munroe novel by Taylor Stevens, Vanishing Act: A Jane Whitefield novel by Thomas Perry, Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. 

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie / Alan Bradley / 416 pages / 8 discs

     I do not know why I have put off listening to this series. I should be ashamed of myself. I guess it was because every publication crowed how wonderful it was. I am usually very wary of those kind of recommendations. They really don't turn out well for me. But as I was driving to Chicago I figured why not. I have been handsomely rewarded.
     We meet 11 year old Flavia de Luce who lives with her family in a slowly disintegrating house (Buckshaw) in the middle of the British countryside. She has two older sisters who are interested in reading and themselves. Her father is in his study looking at his beloved stamp albums. So Flavia has been left to her own devices and having rather a quick and agile mind, reads the textbooks about chemistry in the laboratory in the attic of the house. One morning she discovers a dying man in the garden and immediately knows he will cause trouble for her family. The police are summoned and Flavia is summarily dismissed which erks her to no end. She decides she will solve the case in her own manner.
     You can imagine what this young lady will get up to. She uses her brain and makes assumptions, hypotheses, and conclusions in order to find the answers. As it turns out she is sometimes ahead of the police which surprises them. I love the asides about her family history especially about the spectacular failures of her uncles. She is snarky about her sisters and the plans for revenge verge on the awesome. I am rather fond of this 11 year old precocious and delightful young lady.
    The narrator for this series is beyond awesome. Jayne Entwistle gets it perfect and the tone and range are just wonderful. I can't imagine anyone else doing the reading. We actually feel as if Flavia is sitting down with us and telling the story over a cup of tea. Astounding and wonderful. I recommended this to higher middle grades, teens and adults. No language but descriptions could be a little uncomfortable. Flavia has some tight scrapes but not overly dramatized. I am definitely looking forward to the next one The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag.

Six Degrees of Reading:  Full Dark House: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler, Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas, The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie King. 

The Brutal Telling: A Three Pines Mystery / Louise Penny / 384 pages / 11 discs

     Inspector Gamache has returned to the village of Three Pines to try and solve a murder that hits close to home. In the beloved local bistro a body has appeared and no one knows him. Even the owners are perplexed as to his identity. As Gamache begins to follow the twisting trail, he begins to suspect one of his friends, a villager isn't telling all he knows. The village has also seen the historical mansion on the hill turn into a spa. This means direct competition for the bed and breakfast. Is this part of the murder or is it a red herring? Gamache and his team follow all the available clues, uncovering some unpleasant truths about the village's history. Is he on the right trail or is he letting his personal feelings cloud his judgement?
     The fifth volume in the series and it has definitely turned toward a darker tone in voice and the plot. The reader is uncomfortable with what is happening to familiar characters. Has the author been fooling us all along and everyone has terrible dark secrets that will ruin them? One of Penny's best in my opinion. She has turned her fictional world on its ear. I was pulled along by the story even though my mind was screaming "No! No! I don't want to find out anymore!" Our village which seemed a tranquil place has begun turning into something else.The ending has unsettled me so much I am taking a break from my beloved Gamache. I need to come to grips with what has happened. As usual the narrator has done an excellent job. I truly recommend listening to him read this series.

6 Degrees of Reading: Bruno, Chief of Police: A Novel of the French Countryside by Martin Walker, Death of a Cozy Writer: A St. Just Mystery by G.M. Malliet, Death at La Fenice: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon.

A Rule Against Murder: A Three Pines Mystery / Louise Penny / 322 pages / 9 discs

     Inspector Gamache is on vacation. He has taken his wife to the beautiful and historical Manoir Bellechasse. They have gone there every year since Gamache asked his wife to marry him. It is a secluded retreat from the pressures of being a policeman. Also at the Manoir is a family reunion though it isn't a happy one. They are there to remember their patriarch and to put a statue in the garden. During a severe thunderstorm the statue falls over and kills a young woman. Gamache is pulled into the family's tragic past while investigating the murder. He finds secrets from the bus boy to the Manoir's owner. Will he figure out what happened in order to save them from themselves?
     This is the fourth volume in the Three Pines series. Gamache is a bit battered from the events from the last novel. He needs time to reflect and gather his strength. The novel's tone has changed a bit from the last few stories. It is a bit darker and not so quick with the puns. Gamache has seen some of his friends betray him and that has caused some hesitation in his thinking. Don't get me wrong. The novel is pure Gamache with his questions, provoking comments and undying love for his wife. We learn even more about the history of Quebec and its peoples. But the change is there. The ending is so surprising and exciting that you realize Gamache isn't done yet. Heartily recommended for mystery and well as history aficionados.

6 Degrees of Reading: A Fine Summer's Day: An Inspector Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd, Vertigo 42: A Richard Jury Mystery by Martha Grimes, A Dangerous Place: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear. 

The 100-Year-Oled Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared / Jonas Jonasson / 384 pages

     If you are looking for a hilarious romp through history, poking fun at just about every important figure, this is the book you are looking for! Allan Karlsson is about to turn 100 and he doesn't want anything to do with it. The nursing home is throwing a birthday party complete with the town's mayor and media but Allan has made a decision. After working his way through a window, Allan makes his way to the bus station. He picks up a rather large suitcase and takes off on the bus. No, the suitcase isn't his and yes, the owner is very angry.
     As Allan travels across the breadth of Sweden, we flashback to his life and where he has been. His father wasn't happy because Socialism wasn't taking hold in his country so traveled to Russia where he could help their cause. The father left Allan and his mother behind. Thus Allan's life is set. He becomes interested in explosives and becomes a rather rich business man. He blows up his own house and his travels begin on a bicycle. I am not sure how he does it but Allan does manage to meet just about every major figure during the 20th Century. He first goes to Spain with a friend to help in the revolution only to end up saving General Franco's life. Franco offers him a chance to go to New York and from there he ends up in New Mexico. It is a little head shaking at all the connections but read the book, you will laugh out loud at Allan's madcap adventures.
    The one thing I thought about with recommending this is someone has to be familiar with all the historical events of the 20th Century. One has to be of a certain age or even a true history buff to understand all the hidden innuendos. The author really did his research and Jonasson admits sometimes a bit too much. I found this a quick read. I was very curious about what was happening in the present as well as what happened in the past. Excellent satire on our world and historical events.

Six degrees of reading: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.

The Cruelest Month: A Three Pines Mystery / Louise Penny / 320 pages / 10 cds

     The third volume in the Inspector Gamache series. Once again a murder has happened in the tiny village of Three Pines. This time it is during a seance in the mansion on the hill. Some of the villagers had meant to celebrate the arrival of Spring and hopefully rid the house of its evil reputation. Unfortunately one of the members dies of fright during the ceremony. Gamache and his team is sent to investigate. Story lines left over from the previous two volumes figure into this story. Not only is Gamache trying to ferret out a murderer he is trying to find out who is sabotaging his reputation. Is this the result of an earlier investigation where the highest authority was challenged and found wanting? The cruelest month plays out its reputation!
     As mentioned in previous reviews, Gamache's team all have been rescued so to speak by him and they are loyal to a fault. Or is one of his team trying to make him fail? I feel this is one of the best in the series. Yes the debut was awesome but Penny has just ratcheted up the tension to the point you are afraid to start a new chapter (or disc in my case). Is this the end of Gamache? What about his team? And who is the murderer? Louise Penny is a wonderful author who peppers her story with history, humor (the relationship between Gamache and his wife is hilarious) and some not so subtle pokes at today's world. A real twister - thought I had the right person but once again I missed it.

Six degrees of reading:  Bruno, Chief of Police: A Novel of the French Countryside by Martin Walker, Death in a Strange Country: A Commissaro Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon, The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie King.

A Fatal Grace / Louise Penny/ 320 pages / 9 cds

     This is the second volume in the Inspector Gamache/Three Pines series. I am still in awe of the intriguing Gamache. After the spectacular ending in the debut volume we pick up the story a few months later. C.C. de Poitiers has been murdered in the village of Three Pines. Or more specifically in the mansion at the top of the hill. She and her family had moved in the vacant mansion and managed to alienate everyone there. No one was all that upset about her murder. C.C. left behind a daughter named Crie (say it out loud and you will get the hurtfulness of the name) and a burgeoning empire. But when the police begin to delve into C.C.'s past, it turns out not all is on the up and up.
    So again Gamache must approach the village and begin to dig into their lives. Penny has some fun with the clues in this book. I can't give specifics because it would ruin the surprise but here's a hint: know your French history. We meet more of the villagers in this volume and learn more of the Quebecois history. Once again Agent Nicole is present and even more rude than the last volume. You begin to wonder if there is a purpose to why Gamache puts up with her insolence. More of Gamache's past is revealed and the viper's nest that is the Surete hierarchy hurts Gamache where it counts the most. Was totally thrown by the big reveal at the end - bet you won't see it coming either.
   Just a note: if you are interested in reading this series, I would seriously recommend trying the audio books. Ralph Cosham who reads the entire series is beyond awesome. He has the reassurance of Gamache, the over eagerness of Jean Guy Beauvoir, and the pettiness of Nicole. The French phrases trip off his tongue so beautifully. I am amazed by this man. Probably why I am so fond of Gamache.

Six degrees of reading: Hunting Shadows (Ian Rutledge) by Charles Todd, To Dwell in Darkness ( Duncan Kincaid/Gemma Jones) by Deborah Crombie, Blood on the Water (William Monk) by Anne Perry.

Still Life / Louise Penny / 473 pages / 8 cds

     I have a confession to make. I am in love with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Montreal police. He is a man not given to publicity seeking actions but is a quiet man with deep understanding of the human psyche. Armand is older, hair beginning to gray but with the biggest brown eyes that can see through someone's false story. Inspector Gamache is summoned to a tiny village of Three Pines just north of the U.S. border. There has been a murder. He summons his team and as they arrive we meet them one by one. There are four primary detectives: Detective Beauvoir & Agent Lacoste and a new member Yvette Nicole, As they begin their investigation, the reader begins to sense there is a deep undercurrent to everyone's actions.
     A beloved member of the community has been found murdered in the woods. She had been to a dinner party the night before so those 5-6 people are the last to see her alive. How the investigation begins and the directions it takes are like a police procedural but you have the human side of the detectives interfere. Beauvoir takes a dislike to an older woman and those feelings collide with the need to be impartial. Nicole seems to be a thorn in the side of everyone and constantly bungles instructions but is there a purpose to it? Gamache's past comes calling and those decisions begin to taint the investigation in Three Pines. A wonderfully complex debut mystery. I am looking forward to seeing where the rest of the series takes me.
     Louise Penny's novels have been called cozy mysteries and I agree with that descriptions but there is so much more. We learn about Quebecois history, the city politics of Montreal and their police, the history of Three Pines and what is means to the people who live there. The village isn't on any map and the residents had fled the big city in the hopes of starting all over again. We learn about the art world through two rather intriguing characters who I think will be part of a overlying story arc in the continuing novels. I certainly came to feel these people were part of our community and I would see them at any time. I would love to live in the village of Three Pines. Heartily recommended to anyone who lives an intriguing mystery, human nature and a well-plotted novel. Bet you don't figure out the murderer before Gamache does!!

Six degrees of reading: The Secret Place (Dublin Murder squad) by Tana French, Vertigo 42 (Richard Jury mystery) by Martha Grimes, Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal.