Hello All!
I started my Young Adult Literature reading with a bang. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow is a 2008 title that has had excellent reviews, and I agree with them. This was a very good book about how teens communicate, their knowledge of how many of them can make the internet work for them, terrorism, and government reaction to it, all told from a 17-year-old's point of view. It starts with a group of teens who are out role-playing via a wireless connection when a terrorist attack occurs in San Francisco. Marcus, our hero, is arrested as a possible terrorist, because of first being in the wrong place at the wrong time, then because of his knowledge of computers, the internet and other media he uses on a daily basis. After some interrogation, he is released into a different San Franciso, one that is close to being a police state, run by the Department of Homeland Security. Marcus knows his Constitution, and decides to take on the DHS, and quite an adventure is the result.
I was surprised to enjoy a book so much by an author whose work I had not previously liked. I read Eastern Standard Tribe a few years ago, and I was disappointed with that title. Maybe one should not judge an author by one book :)? And the only quibble I had with this book was the occasional technical explanations, but I do think they were necessary to the book.
I found this to be a hero's journey, and a journey I was very happy to take.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Young Adult Literature
Hello All!
First, the good news--I accepted an offer of a position as a Young Adult Librarian with the Pima County Public Library!!! I will be working at the Valencia Branch, located in Tucson, near the Tucson International Airport.
I'm very excited, both to be working in a new library, and to be working with a new age group. Which brings me to the second part of my news--Patti's Pens and Picks will probably have more reviews and mentions of Young Adult Literature than before. I just started Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, and I picked up a whole bunch of other books to read soon also. As I start December 1, I don't think I'll get all the books finished :).
For the first two months, I plan on commuting--1.5 hours plus each way, so I will also start listening to audiobooks, both adult and young adult. Until now, I preferred to listen to nonfiction only on audio, as I've always been afraid of getting too involved with the story to listen to fiction while driving :). I'm going to work my way past this fear, as I can get quite a bit of listening into 3-4 hours of driving a day. Don't worry, I won't be doing this for very long!
If you have any recommendations for Young Adult Literature, especially on audio, please let me know. I think I'll start with finishing the Harry Potter series that I started rereading this year--I've heard that the reader for this series is excellent.
Don't worry, I'll still be reading a variety of literature and genres, but my immediate focus will be a catch-up of some Young Adult Literature.
Happy Reading!
Patti
First, the good news--I accepted an offer of a position as a Young Adult Librarian with the Pima County Public Library!!! I will be working at the Valencia Branch, located in Tucson, near the Tucson International Airport.
I'm very excited, both to be working in a new library, and to be working with a new age group. Which brings me to the second part of my news--Patti's Pens and Picks will probably have more reviews and mentions of Young Adult Literature than before. I just started Cory Doctorow's Little Brother, and I picked up a whole bunch of other books to read soon also. As I start December 1, I don't think I'll get all the books finished :).
For the first two months, I plan on commuting--1.5 hours plus each way, so I will also start listening to audiobooks, both adult and young adult. Until now, I preferred to listen to nonfiction only on audio, as I've always been afraid of getting too involved with the story to listen to fiction while driving :). I'm going to work my way past this fear, as I can get quite a bit of listening into 3-4 hours of driving a day. Don't worry, I won't be doing this for very long!
If you have any recommendations for Young Adult Literature, especially on audio, please let me know. I think I'll start with finishing the Harry Potter series that I started rereading this year--I've heard that the reader for this series is excellent.
Don't worry, I'll still be reading a variety of literature and genres, but my immediate focus will be a catch-up of some Young Adult Literature.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream by Adam Shepard
Hello All!
Scratch Beginnings was an amazingly well written book, written by a young man who attempted a very interesting experiment. Adam Shepard decides to see if the American dream can be achieved from a certain set of circumstances--a train ticket to a southern large city, $25.00, the clothes on his back, and an empty duffle bag. Shepard travels by train to Charleston, South Carolina, and makes his way to a local homeless shelter. He works for as day laborer for awhile, and eventually finds a good job as with a moving company.
Shepard is clear that a strong opposition to Barbara Ehrenriech's books Nickel and Dimed, and Bait and Switch lead to his experiment of finding out whether the American dream is still possible. Read this book to find out what Adam was able to achieve.
I believe that this book would definitely be appropriate for young adult or teen readers, as it is quite inspirational, and gives some pretty good advice. It's a good read for adults also, and I think that many readers will come away with ideas on how to handle their money in our current economy.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Scratch Beginnings was an amazingly well written book, written by a young man who attempted a very interesting experiment. Adam Shepard decides to see if the American dream can be achieved from a certain set of circumstances--a train ticket to a southern large city, $25.00, the clothes on his back, and an empty duffle bag. Shepard travels by train to Charleston, South Carolina, and makes his way to a local homeless shelter. He works for as day laborer for awhile, and eventually finds a good job as with a moving company.
Shepard is clear that a strong opposition to Barbara Ehrenriech's books Nickel and Dimed, and Bait and Switch lead to his experiment of finding out whether the American dream is still possible. Read this book to find out what Adam was able to achieve.
I believe that this book would definitely be appropriate for young adult or teen readers, as it is quite inspirational, and gives some pretty good advice. It's a good read for adults also, and I think that many readers will come away with ideas on how to handle their money in our current economy.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Bookworm's Award
Hello All!
Lesa Holstine of http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/ has just awarded me The Bookworm's Award. Thank you, I consider this a great honor!
Along with the award, there are a few rules. Open the closest book to you—not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment—to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence as well as the next two to five sentences. Pass this on to five blogging friends.
The book closest to me is one I finished a few days ago but have yet to add to GoodReads, or anywhere else for that matter; it's Garrison Keillor's Homegrown Democrat. Here's the quote from page 58 (56 is blank, and 57 is one long sentence): "We sat in our bathing suits on the grass by the beach on the Mississippi, both of us pale, shade seekers, and she poured out her bitterness that Hubert, a true Democrat who fought the good fight for equal rights for Negroes, had been passed over in favor of the son of a crook."
And now I'm passing it on to those below and quoting Lesa: "So, I'm passing on the award to five people. Tag, you're it! And, if you're not into memes, here's an apology. Remember, you never have to pass one on, if you don't want to play.
http://pattinase.blogspot.com/
http://billcrider.blogspot.com/
http://www.thelibraryfairy.blogspot.com/
http://cathyskye.blogspot.com/
Have fun! And if you're reading this, please feel free to look around at your own books and let me know what's going on on page 56 :)
Happy Reading!
Patti
Lesa Holstine of http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/ has just awarded me The Bookworm's Award. Thank you, I consider this a great honor!
Along with the award, there are a few rules. Open the closest book to you—not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment—to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence as well as the next two to five sentences. Pass this on to five blogging friends.
The book closest to me is one I finished a few days ago but have yet to add to GoodReads, or anywhere else for that matter; it's Garrison Keillor's Homegrown Democrat. Here's the quote from page 58 (56 is blank, and 57 is one long sentence): "We sat in our bathing suits on the grass by the beach on the Mississippi, both of us pale, shade seekers, and she poured out her bitterness that Hubert, a true Democrat who fought the good fight for equal rights for Negroes, had been passed over in favor of the son of a crook."
And now I'm passing it on to those below and quoting Lesa: "So, I'm passing on the award to five people. Tag, you're it! And, if you're not into memes, here's an apology. Remember, you never have to pass one on, if you don't want to play.
http://pattinase.blogspot.com/
http://billcrider.blogspot.com/
http://www.thelibraryfairy.blogspot.com/
http://cathyskye.blogspot.com/
Have fun! And if you're reading this, please feel free to look around at your own books and let me know what's going on on page 56 :)
Happy Reading!
Patti
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Paris Enigma by Pablo De Santis
Hello All!
The Paris Enigma by Pablo De Santis is an interesting book; for me, sort of an alternative history of private detectives. It begins just before the 1889 Paris World's Fair, when Argentine detective Renaldo Craig opens an academy for those interested in learning about detecting--those who enroll believe he is going to finally choose an acolyte, or assistant. Craig is one of the Twelve Detectives, a society known world-wide for their detecting skills, and each one of the Twelve has his own acolyte, except for Craig. Almost by default, Sigmundo Salvatrio becomes Craig's acolyte, and due to Craig becoming ill, is sent to Paris and the World's Fair in Craig's stead. Once the Twelve, minus one, are gathered from the four corners of the world, murder and mystery inevitably result. Will the society known as the Twelve Detectives survive working together?
As I stated above, I felt like this book told an alternative history of how some traditions of detecting came into being, including applying philosophy. I also felt as if the Twelve were sort of like the Greek gods, overseeing the direction of private detection, and developing rules and guidelines.
This was an interesting book, though for me the writing varied from stiff to lyrical; perhaps this has to do with the translation. And thank you to HarperCollins, as this was a title I received as an Advance Reader's Copy.
The Paris Enigma by Pablo De Santis is an interesting book; for me, sort of an alternative history of private detectives. It begins just before the 1889 Paris World's Fair, when Argentine detective Renaldo Craig opens an academy for those interested in learning about detecting--those who enroll believe he is going to finally choose an acolyte, or assistant. Craig is one of the Twelve Detectives, a society known world-wide for their detecting skills, and each one of the Twelve has his own acolyte, except for Craig. Almost by default, Sigmundo Salvatrio becomes Craig's acolyte, and due to Craig becoming ill, is sent to Paris and the World's Fair in Craig's stead. Once the Twelve, minus one, are gathered from the four corners of the world, murder and mystery inevitably result. Will the society known as the Twelve Detectives survive working together?
As I stated above, I felt like this book told an alternative history of how some traditions of detecting came into being, including applying philosophy. I also felt as if the Twelve were sort of like the Greek gods, overseeing the direction of private detection, and developing rules and guidelines.
This was an interesting book, though for me the writing varied from stiff to lyrical; perhaps this has to do with the translation. And thank you to HarperCollins, as this was a title I received as an Advance Reader's Copy.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Friday's Forgotten Reads--The Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast
Hello All!
My Friday's Forgotten Read for November is another one of my absolute favorites, The Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson. It is about exactly what the title says it is, a bed and breakfast owned by twin bachelor brothers (fraternal twins, read the book for more information on their early lives), their neighbors, and their guests. This is the bed and breakfast that every book-lover would love to visit, for that is why Hector and Virgil opened it, to be a haven for bibliophiles to finally finish War & Peace or to indulge in what the guests refer to as guilty pleasures while on their vacations. It contains lists of books to read, and guestbook entries containing compliments and one or two complaints by visitors. The brothers also talk about their reading interests, something that all readers want to know about each other.
I reread this book almost annually, as it seems to be an armchair trip I feel I need to take regularly. Where the Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast is located is never revealed, and they say they have no need to advertise for guests. Maybe it's in Brigadoon, if Brigadoon was located in western Canada. Sigh.
Happy Reading!
Patti
My Friday's Forgotten Read for November is another one of my absolute favorites, The Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson. It is about exactly what the title says it is, a bed and breakfast owned by twin bachelor brothers (fraternal twins, read the book for more information on their early lives), their neighbors, and their guests. This is the bed and breakfast that every book-lover would love to visit, for that is why Hector and Virgil opened it, to be a haven for bibliophiles to finally finish War & Peace or to indulge in what the guests refer to as guilty pleasures while on their vacations. It contains lists of books to read, and guestbook entries containing compliments and one or two complaints by visitors. The brothers also talk about their reading interests, something that all readers want to know about each other.
I reread this book almost annually, as it seems to be an armchair trip I feel I need to take regularly. Where the Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast is located is never revealed, and they say they have no need to advertise for guests. Maybe it's in Brigadoon, if Brigadoon was located in western Canada. Sigh.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Awards Mentioned on My Blog
Another list of links, this one to book awards mentioned on my blog:
Anthony Awards
Barry Awards
Edgar Awards
Macavity Awards
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards
Spur Awards
Anthony Awards
Barry Awards
Edgar Awards
Macavity Awards
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards
Spur Awards
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Books Mentioned on My Blog
Books I've discussed or mentioned on my blog:
84 Charing Cross Road
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
A Place of Execution
In the Woods by Tana French
A Wrinkle in Time
Banned Books Week: A Wrinkle In Time
All About Evie
Checking Out Award Winners
Army Wives on the American Frontier
Gone West
Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast
Friday's Forgotten Reads: The Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast
Eastern Standard Tribe
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Face of a Killer
Poisoned Pen Appearances: Robin Burcell, Tim Maleeny & Nils Lofgren(?!)
Grand Canyon Women
Gone West
Happy All the Time
Friday's Forgotten Reads: Happy All the Time
Haunted Ground
In the Woods by Tana French
In the Woods
In the Woods by Tana French
Juicy Pens and Thirsty Paper
Sark Appearance and Signing
Little Brother
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Meet the Austins
Banned Books Week: A Wrinkle in Time
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Paris Enigma
The Paris Enigma by Pablo De Santis
Sparkling Cyanide
Agatha Christie's Sparkling Cyanide (AKA Remembered Death)
Tallgrass
Gone West Continued
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Hour I First Believed
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
The Persian Pickle Club
Gone West Continued
These Is My Words
Gone West
84 Charing Cross Road
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
A Place of Execution
In the Woods by Tana French
A Wrinkle in Time
Banned Books Week: A Wrinkle In Time
All About Evie
Checking Out Award Winners
Army Wives on the American Frontier
Gone West
Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast
Friday's Forgotten Reads: The Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast
Eastern Standard Tribe
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Face of a Killer
Poisoned Pen Appearances: Robin Burcell, Tim Maleeny & Nils Lofgren(?!)
Grand Canyon Women
Gone West
Happy All the Time
Friday's Forgotten Reads: Happy All the Time
Haunted Ground
In the Woods by Tana French
In the Woods
In the Woods by Tana French
Juicy Pens and Thirsty Paper
Sark Appearance and Signing
Little Brother
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Meet the Austins
Banned Books Week: A Wrinkle in Time
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Paris Enigma
The Paris Enigma by Pablo De Santis
Sparkling Cyanide
Agatha Christie's Sparkling Cyanide (AKA Remembered Death)
Tallgrass
Gone West Continued
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Hour I First Believed
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
The Persian Pickle Club
Gone West Continued
These Is My Words
Gone West
Authors Mentioned on My Blog
Here's a list of the authors mentioned on my blog:
Alexander; Tasha
Historical Mystery Fiction
Barrows; Annie
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Burcell; Robin
Poisoned Pen Appearances: Robin Burcell, Tim Maleeny and Nils Lofgren(?!)
Christie; Agatha
Sparkling Cyanide (AKA Remembered Death)
Ciotta; Beth
Checking Out Award Winners
Coben; Harlan
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Colwin; Laurie
Friday's Forgotten Reads: Happy All the Time
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Crais; Robert
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Dallas; Sandra
Gone West Continued
De Santis; Pablo
The Paris Enigma
Doctorow; Cory
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Eales; Anne Bruner
Gone West
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Fate; Robert
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Finch; Charles
Historical Mystery Fiction
Gage; Leighton
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Harris; C. S.
Historical Mystery Fiction
Hart; Erin
In the Woods by Tana French
Haruf; Kent
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Kidd; Sue Monk
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Koryta; Michael
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
L'Engle; Madeleine
Banned Books Week 2008: A Wrinkle in Time
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Lamb; Wally
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Lehane; Dennis
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Maleeny, Tim
Poisoned Pen Appearances: Robin Burcell, Tim Maleeny and Nils Lofgren(?!)
Maron; Margaret
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
McDermid; Val
In the Woods by Tana French
Penny; Louise
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Raybourn; Deanna
Historical Mystery Fiction
Richardson; Bill
Friday's Forgotten Reads: The Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast
Rozan; S. J.
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Sark
Sark Appearance and Signing
Shaffer; Mary Ann
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Todd; Charles
In the Woods by Tana French
Torres; Steven
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Turner; Nancy E
Gone West
Ure; Louise
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Wyman; Willard
Checking Out Award Winners
Alexander; Tasha
Historical Mystery Fiction
Barrows; Annie
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Burcell; Robin
Poisoned Pen Appearances: Robin Burcell, Tim Maleeny and Nils Lofgren(?!)
Christie; Agatha
Sparkling Cyanide (AKA Remembered Death)
Ciotta; Beth
Checking Out Award Winners
Coben; Harlan
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Colwin; Laurie
Friday's Forgotten Reads: Happy All the Time
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Crais; Robert
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Dallas; Sandra
Gone West Continued
De Santis; Pablo
The Paris Enigma
Doctorow; Cory
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Eales; Anne Bruner
Gone West
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Fate; Robert
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Finch; Charles
Historical Mystery Fiction
Gage; Leighton
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Harris; C. S.
Historical Mystery Fiction
Hart; Erin
In the Woods by Tana French
Haruf; Kent
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Kidd; Sue Monk
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Koryta; Michael
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
L'Engle; Madeleine
Banned Books Week 2008: A Wrinkle in Time
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Lamb; Wally
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Lehane; Dennis
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Maleeny, Tim
Poisoned Pen Appearances: Robin Burcell, Tim Maleeny and Nils Lofgren(?!)
Maron; Margaret
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
McDermid; Val
In the Woods by Tana French
Penny; Louise
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Raybourn; Deanna
Historical Mystery Fiction
Richardson; Bill
Friday's Forgotten Reads: The Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast
Rozan; S. J.
My Answers to the Cool Questions from Shelf Awareness
Sark
Sark Appearance and Signing
Shaffer; Mary Ann
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Todd; Charles
In the Woods by Tana French
Torres; Steven
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Turner; Nancy E
Gone West
Ure; Louise
Finally Catching Up on Reading Free Books
Wyman; Willard
Checking Out Award Winners
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Historical Mystery Fiction
Hello All!
I have recently figured out a trend in some of my mystery reading--much of my historical mystery reading takes place in England between the late 1700s to the end of the 1800s. You would have thought I might have caught on before this :).
One of my favorite time periods in British history is the Regency period, which I discovered first through Georgette Heyer first, then through Jane Austen. Madeleine Robins writes a series set in that time period of a woman whose reputation is ruined due to an affair. Instead of becoming a prostitute, she becomes a inquiry agent, which includes dressing as a man occasionally to move more easily around London. Unfortunately, there are only two titles in this series.
Another series set in the Regency period is C. S. Harris's featuring Sebastian St. Cyr. Sebastian is a Napoleon War veteran, during which he was an intelligence agent. Through circumstances, he ends up a murder suspect, and has to use his skills to prove his innocence in the first book in this series What Angels Fear. I've read two so far, and enjoyed them thoroughly.
Moving towards to the middle of the 19th century, Charles Finch's new series begins with A Beautiful Blue Death, where neighbors Charles Lenox and Lady Jane Grey investigate the murder of her maid. Charles is a bachelor of independent means, and he has followed an investigate path before, as a way to truly use his intellect. I look forward to the second in this series, to see how (or if) a relationship further develops between the neighbors, and to see Charles Lenox investigate another case.
Mid to late century, Deanna Raybourn's heroine, young widow Lady Julia Grey, has inquiry agent Nicholas Brisbane looking into her husband's death, which she though was natural. Nicholas is a more blunt individual than Lady Grey is accustomed to, and as she gets to know him, and herself, she begins to grow and trust herself more. Secondary characters are important as Lady Grey is one of 10 siblings, and has an overprotective father, among other interesting people.
Last in this list is Tasha Alexander. Her series features Lady Emily Ashton, another young widow, whose husband was lost under mysterious circumstances. As she learns more about her husband, who lead a separate life from hers, she falls in love with him, and the history he loved so much. Emily also becomes very independent, befriending several other independent thinking women, and choosing to lead her own life in this process. Colin Hargreaves, her husband's best friend, and an investigator, looks into his death, and in the process, becomes close to Emily.
All of these characters are, no doubt, living somewhat outside the restrictions of society of their time, but that leads to characters who can have strong personalities and interesting adventures. All of the above main characters are intelligent, which I find to be important to me. These books were all written/published in the last five years or so, and I highly recommend them as good mysteries, and interesting views of their respective time periods in English history.
Here is a list of the authors I discussed above, and the books that I've read so far by each--some have more in their series than I've listed. Enjoy!
Tasha Alexander: 1) And Only to Deceive 2) A Poisoned Season & 3) A Fatal Waltz
Charles Finch: 1) A Beautiful Blue Death
C. S. Harris: 1) What Angels Fear 2) When Gods Die
Deanna Raybourn: 1) Silent in the Grave
Madeleine Robins: 1) Point of Honour & 2)Petty Treason
Happy Reading!
Patti
I have recently figured out a trend in some of my mystery reading--much of my historical mystery reading takes place in England between the late 1700s to the end of the 1800s. You would have thought I might have caught on before this :).
One of my favorite time periods in British history is the Regency period, which I discovered first through Georgette Heyer first, then through Jane Austen. Madeleine Robins writes a series set in that time period of a woman whose reputation is ruined due to an affair. Instead of becoming a prostitute, she becomes a inquiry agent, which includes dressing as a man occasionally to move more easily around London. Unfortunately, there are only two titles in this series.
Another series set in the Regency period is C. S. Harris's featuring Sebastian St. Cyr. Sebastian is a Napoleon War veteran, during which he was an intelligence agent. Through circumstances, he ends up a murder suspect, and has to use his skills to prove his innocence in the first book in this series What Angels Fear. I've read two so far, and enjoyed them thoroughly.
Moving towards to the middle of the 19th century, Charles Finch's new series begins with A Beautiful Blue Death, where neighbors Charles Lenox and Lady Jane Grey investigate the murder of her maid. Charles is a bachelor of independent means, and he has followed an investigate path before, as a way to truly use his intellect. I look forward to the second in this series, to see how (or if) a relationship further develops between the neighbors, and to see Charles Lenox investigate another case.
Mid to late century, Deanna Raybourn's heroine, young widow Lady Julia Grey, has inquiry agent Nicholas Brisbane looking into her husband's death, which she though was natural. Nicholas is a more blunt individual than Lady Grey is accustomed to, and as she gets to know him, and herself, she begins to grow and trust herself more. Secondary characters are important as Lady Grey is one of 10 siblings, and has an overprotective father, among other interesting people.
Last in this list is Tasha Alexander. Her series features Lady Emily Ashton, another young widow, whose husband was lost under mysterious circumstances. As she learns more about her husband, who lead a separate life from hers, she falls in love with him, and the history he loved so much. Emily also becomes very independent, befriending several other independent thinking women, and choosing to lead her own life in this process. Colin Hargreaves, her husband's best friend, and an investigator, looks into his death, and in the process, becomes close to Emily.
All of these characters are, no doubt, living somewhat outside the restrictions of society of their time, but that leads to characters who can have strong personalities and interesting adventures. All of the above main characters are intelligent, which I find to be important to me. These books were all written/published in the last five years or so, and I highly recommend them as good mysteries, and interesting views of their respective time periods in English history.
Here is a list of the authors I discussed above, and the books that I've read so far by each--some have more in their series than I've listed. Enjoy!
Tasha Alexander: 1) And Only to Deceive 2) A Poisoned Season & 3) A Fatal Waltz
Charles Finch: 1) A Beautiful Blue Death
C. S. Harris: 1) What Angels Fear 2) When Gods Die
Deanna Raybourn: 1) Silent in the Grave
Madeleine Robins: 1) Point of Honour & 2)Petty Treason
Happy Reading!
Patti
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