The Secret Panel By: Franklin W. Dixon

Gotta Love a locked door mystery and this is one is no exception.  A house tat has doors with no locks and no hinges, a secret panel, a signet ring and Chet buying a dilapidated dory, send Frank and Joe on an adventure through an abandoned mansion.  This one has all the excitement and adventure one comes to expect from a Hardy Boys Mystery.

 

The Short-Wave Mystery By: Franklin W. Dixon

A ham-radio set, amateur taxidermy, corporate espionage and a wayward child send the Hardy Boys all the way to Canada in this adventure.  The section where the Boys break and decipher the code is particularly well written and smartly done!
 

The Melted Coins By: Franklin W. Dixon

 A fascinating mini-history of the Seneca tribe rituals adds extra oomph to this outing of the Hardy Boys.  What begins as a trip to help their friend Chet investigate a shady summer College, turns into an adventure involving an elderly couple, a coin collection and a missing tribal mask.

 

The Flickering Torch Mystery By: Franklin W. Dixon

 

A wild ride in the air and on the ground meets the Hardy Boys in this romp.  Mysterious plan crashes, missing plan parts, an amp and a suspicious junk yard all conspire to trip up Frank and Joe and their bestie Chet.

The Clue of the Broken Blade By: Franklin W. Dixon

 A missing will, a broken dueling sword and a repurposed vineyard all make for an intriguing mystery for the boys to solve...this time, in addition to Chet and their Dad, Frank and Joe get a little assist from Mom!

 

A Christmas Resolution By: Anne Perry

 

Anne Perry's Christmas novels are such a huge part of my Christmas every year, I honestly don't think the holiday is complete unless I find the latest holiday caper in my stocking!  A Christmas Resolution centers on William Monk's right hand man, John Hooper, and his wife Celia.  A tale of redemption, lost souls found and even a little Christmas justice.  The great thing about these Christmas mysteries, is that Perry makes the supporting characters from her other series' the star, which adds a richness to the series from whence they spring.

From Beer to Eternity By: Sherry Harris

Sherry Harris has done it again!  Her new series is every bit as fantastic as her Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series!  Chloe Jackson is a delightful heroine in this fish out of water mystery, set in the Emerald Coast of Florida's panhandle.  Like any good bar-this story is chock full of quirky characters to amuse, annoy and delight the reader.  A touch of local history adds a lovely paper umbrella dash of color to this happy drink of a book!

 

 

 

Oathbringer By: Brandon Sanderson

 

A deep dive into all the characters and stories beautifully set up in Books 1 & 2.  I love a well written fantasy tome that takes current world themes and blends them seamlessly into the worlds of the book.  I even got a little weepy at certain points. 

TOP TEN BOOKS I'VE READ IN 2020

10.) Parabellum  By: Greg Hickey

An Altman-esque look at America today, that is devastating and hopeful all at once. Characters with no names shows emphasizes the new archetypes in current world. Pin-point precising in delving into the psyche of these new archetypes, Hickey has written a new Everyperson story for the new millennium.

 

9.) Everything in Between  By: Caitlin Elizabeth Simmons 

What I expected to be a simple romp through one one woman's travels and adventures,
ending up being as eye opening about my own privilege, as it was for the author.
Deeply moving, sometimes extremely funny, thoughtful, and not what I expected-in
such a good way. 

 

8.) Find Me  By: Andre Aciman 

The follow-up to Call Me By Your
Name, is just as lush and gorgeously written as it's predecessor. This one,
however focuses on Dad, who was such a lovely stand out character, and now gets
his due. A beautiful exploration of finding yourself in yourself and in others.
 

7.) The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry  By: Gabrielle Zevin 

A grumpy man, a littlegirl, a bookstore on an island. Everything and everyone are not what they seem
in this delightful little novel. A must for any book lover, and for anyone who
just enjoys a good story, told well! 

 

6.) Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody  By: Barbara Ross 

What's an intelligent, retired lady to do, after all of her
"I'll get to that when I retire projects" are done? Why use her logic and brains
and wits to nose around other peoples' problems, of course! Ross' new series is
an absolute delight! Jane Darrowfield is a great character, and it's nice to see
an older character being treasured for their life experience and insight!!!
 

5.)The Bookish Life of Nina Hill  By: Abbi Waxman 

What happens when you have a
young woman living her quiet life, and you throw in a whole host of family she
never knew she had? You get this, quite surprising, laugh out loud funny, comedy
of errors...join Nina and her friends for this joyous romp through life and
family. 

 

4.5) All the new series and books by the The Wickeds -wicked good books
authors: Julie Hennrikus , Barbara Ross , Edith Maxwell , Sherry Harris , Liz
Mugavero , Jessie Crockett ! I've been lucky enough to get manuscripts and/or
ARCs of the works of these amazing writers and you really should check out all
of their series'. Check the Wicked's facebook page for their other names for
other fantastic series'! 

 

4.) The Inheritance  By: Matthew Lopez 

A sweeping look at generational and personal inheritance in the time of the AIDS epidemic. The
structure of this play is so unique and breathtaking in it's own right, but it's
the dialogue that will really hit you. For those of us of a certain age, this
hits very close to the heart. 

 

3.) Slave Play  By: Jeremy O. Harris 

A stunning achievement in writing, character development and honesty. A view of the
complexities of race told in shocking, uncomfortable and absolutely brilliant
structure. By far one of the best plays I've ever read. 

 

2.) Anxious People  By: Fredrik Backman 

You know that meme that's been going around for a while, that basically says-don't judge a person because they were rude to you, or short with you, or mean to you, because you don't know what they are dealing with in their life at that moment? Well Backman has written a book that's all about that, and
it's absolutely brilliant. At times annoying, at times confusing, at times laugh out loud funny, Anxious People (like all of Backamn's books) is full of deeply drawn, quirky characters, with a lot of heart. 

 

1.) The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop  By: Fannie Flagg 

A follow-up to the the wildly popular, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, this wonderful story follows the life of Ruth's son, and the denizens and the town of Whistle Stop. Flagg's unfailing
belief in the human condition, her joy in uniqueness of character, and sheer jubilation for life come through loud in clear. A pure joy to read, truly gives one the the warm fuzzies, and with the year we've had this book is a welcome respite from the crazy!
 

For Whom the Book Tolls By: Laura Gail Black

I went back and forth as to whether or not I liked this one. It didn't seem to have the quaint, care free feeling of a cozy-it was a little darker, a little harsher. But in the end, I did end up liking it. It was well plotted, plenty of red herrings, plenty of clues, and interesting bunch of characters. It will be interesting to see how this series evolves.

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop By: Fannie Flagg

 Oh, How I LOVE Fannie Flagg and the wonderful world and characters that she creates!  The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop follows Ruth & Idgie's son Buddy from Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.  Bouncy back and forth in time, the stories all of the characters we all love from FGT and other Flagg books come full circle to present day.  Visiting with the denizens of Whistle Stop again was such a delightful treat!

Spy Master By: Brad Thor

A thrill ride with Thor's trademark action, humor and heart. NATO is at risk, and Scot and his gang, with a new Polish friend, are put through the ringer (and then some) to accomplish their mission. An d of course, it wouldn't be a Brad Thor thriller if there weren't a ginormous twist in the last two sentences of the book that leave the reader screaming!!!!!

A Tale of Witchcraft By: Chris Colfer

A thrilling and moving follow-up to A Tale of Magic. It's also clearly set-up for a third installment. Colfer manages to write of current happenings, clearly and succinctly, without taking down to his intended audience, all wrapped in a fascinatingly told fantasy. With characters we already know so well, and new ones to add to the mix, more history and more adventure, this fantasy is pure magic!

The Magic Misfits: The Fourth Suit By: Neil Patrick Harris

I'm so sad that this series is at an end!!! The 4th and final installment of the Magic Misfits brings the story full circle and to a satisfying conclusion. Ridley is the focus of this particular story, and we get a great deal of insight into her character and her strength. A wonderful series, that I will greatly miss!

Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past By: Traci Wilton

A tightly plotted mystery set in the beguiling Salem, MA, at Christmas.  The season of giving seems to have taken a turn to the season of taking in this 3rd installment of the Salem B&B Mystery series. It's hard to tell which is more stressful for our intrepid heroine, Charlene...is it the recently minted millionaire, the now destitute children, the dead body, or her mother!  Read this festive romp and find out!

The Black Camel By Earl Derr Biggers

The old glamour and scandals of Hollywood meets the laze of the Hawaiian Territory in the 4th installment of the Charlie Chan mysteries. It has glamour, personalities, artists, fortune tellers, a murder (or two), beach bums and Charlie and his wise sayings. This one was great fun!

Behind That Curtain By: Earl Derr Biggers

Having been written in the 1920's you have to swallow a great deal of culturally inappropriate language and the misogyny, but this one I found much better than the 1st one.  With several mysteries wrapped in the main mystery this is exceedingly well plotted, with a satisfactory wrap up!

The House Without a Key By: Earl Derr Biggers

 I had to gird myself for the fact that I knew this would be culturally insensitive considering when it was written and the ethnicity of the title character and the locale of the story...and I was right to do so.  With that said-it was well plotted, and the clues were well placed, but it lacks the oomph I've come to expect from mysteries.  It was just sort of there.

 

Battlefield Earth By: L. Ron Hubbard

I first read this tome 30 years ago. I picked it up at a yard sale, and I vaguely remember enjoying it. 30 years later, in re-reading it, I didn't remember 90% of the story, and discovered that the 19 year old me and the 49 year old me are very different. It was okay enough for me to read the whole thing, but, what starts off as an intriguing premise and an exciting Sci-Fi story ends like a Hallmark movie, and has a lot of side stories that could/should have been cut. I don't regret having another go at this, but is it a rave...meh.

Jane Darrowfield Intervenes: a short story By: Barbara Ross

The short story, previously published in a book of shorts, is where it all started for Jane. After her retirement, and completing all of the task she had hoped to get to in her retirement, what's a girl to do...solve a mystery of course. A perfect set up for Ross' new series that starts with Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody! I highly recommend this series.

My Name is Lucy Barton By: Elizabeth Strout

I just adore the writing of Elizabeth Strout! Lucy Barton is a lovely little novel about finding oneself, and in doing so you're open to finding your relationship to others. Spare, but chock full all at the same time. Gorgeous. Read this a second time and still just as a fabulous, if not more so than the last.

The Inheritance By: Matthew Lopez

WOW! This is an outstanding piece of writing-never mind that it must be epic on stage! What do we inherit from ourselves and our community, and what do those around us and our community inherit from us? A very meta play, within a book, within a play within a book-he writing is gorgeous, timely and deeply moving. An epic story reminiscent of Forster (playing a role in the play), and Kushner that is deeply profound, wholly universal and yet at the same time incredibly personal. An astounding achievement!

Company Man By: Joseph Finder

t's a good thing I take medication to lower my blood pressure, because Joseph Finder is doing his damnedest to raise it! I found myself holding my breathe a lot while reading this tense corporate thriller/police procedural. My heart was always pounding, and my jaw was constantly on the floor. The amount of twists that can be added to one story is a precarious balancing act, and yet Finder manages to just throw them in, and they all work! That is a master of plotting!

Anxious People By: Fredrik Backman

As I was getting toward the end of this tale, I was trying to find the words to describe this book, and then I hit the last chapter, and it sums up EXACTLY what I was thinking while reading. I Love Backman's ability to write, what appears to be, a chaotic mess of a story, and yet smoothly and seamlessly pulls all the random pieces together, resulting in a cohesive tale of human beings. His ability to get inside the minds of multiple characters and make you feel for each an every one of them, without being manipulative, or sappy, is lovely. I always leave a Backman book with a bit of hope and feeling a little better about myself and my place int he world.

Linda Vista By: Tracy Letts

A curmudgeonly man in his 50s with a fucked up life, fucks it up even more in this charming and funny new play by Tracy Letts. There is a glimmer of hope that Wheeler will get his act together as we look in on his new life as he gets a divorce and navigates life on his own as he ages. At times out right hysterical, it's also a deeply moving piece and brilliantly put together by Letts!

Absence of Alice By Sherry Harris To Be Published: January 2021

 

When this one comes out in January, everyone is in for a real treat!  This installment of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series put Sarah's friendships/relationships on the line, tests trust, and offers a twist at the end taht will give you whiplash!!!  This is a must for your "to get when it comes out" list!

The Rose Tattoo By: Tennessee Williams

I've always adored Tennessee Williams' work, but in all the years I've been reading his plays (and seeing them), and his poetry I never got around to The Rose Tattoo. I'm so glad this edition includes some extras! I'm so used to the high drama of Williams' more well know works, so it was a joy to read Rose Tattoo with it's melodrama, it's comedy and it's borderline slapstick. An over the top romantic comedy complete with a witch and a renegade goat. This edition also includes the short play that would eventually become the full length Rose Tattoo, an insightful intro by John Patrick Shanley, a critical essay showing the genesis of the short play to the full length play, Tennessee' explanation of the meaning of The Rose Tattoo as well as a chronology of Williams' life and publications.

Slave Play By: Jeremy O. Harris

This play has so much going on that I can't even begin to describe it's brilliance. It is deeply disturbing, deeply moving, at times oddly funny, and exceedingly thought provoking. It's the type of play that you NEED other people to read/see so that you can discuss it and "process" it (read the play and you'll know why I used the quotation marks)! I can only imagine the impact of seeing this presented on stage! Jaw droppingly amazing!!!!

Betrayal By: Harold Pinter

Read this one again, because it was revived on Broadway again.  I still enjoy this one!  An ingenious look at an affair(s) and the many ways in which we betray each other and ourselves!

 

 

The Sound Inside By: Adam Rapp

A stunning two-hander!  Words escape me as to how to describe this piece...it didn't go where I thought it was going, which adds to the mystery of it.  It's haunting and powerful, and will stay with me as I try to figure out why I was so moved by it!  This is a must read!

Booked for Death By: Victoria Gilbert

A gorgeously envisioned B&B with a literary theme the perfect setting for a cozy. A vivid cast of characters, plenty of suspects, a big twist and a satisfying conclusion. A lovely little read!

A Soldier's Play By: Charles Fuller

A stunning look at racial issues faces Black soldiers in the military, and amidst themselves. A mystery told in real time and in flash back, this play is a punch in the gut!

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune

Have to say, not my favorite McNally play. I didn't particularly care one way or the other for Frankie and I detested Johnny-frankly his character made me very uncomfortable. It's kind of hard to get into a play when it's a two hander and you don't like either one of them.

Sea Wall By: Simon Stephens

A gorgeously rendered piece about family, loss and God.

High Crimes By: Joseph Finder

 I think I've discovered my new favorite Joseph Finder book!  I pretty much held my breathe throughout the reading of this superb courtroom and family thriller. The ending will have you reeling!!  This is one not to miss!

 

red speedo By: Lucas Hnath

I've waited a Loooong time to read this play and it was Sooooo worth the wait! An inventive look at what people will do for their American Dream-no matter the cost or because of the cost!  Rich layers to each character, judgement is left up to the reader.  Hnath is quite an amazing playwright!

The Zero Hour By: Joseph Finder

It's always very hard to remember to breathe while reader a Joseph Finder book, and The Zero Hour was no exception. A cat and mouse game of the highest order; twist and turns around every corner; precisely drawn characters; and a nail-biter until the bitter end. Finder brings humanity to a genre that so often lacks this in exchange for gadgets and violence. A high octane thriller!!!

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay By: Michael Chabon

I read this fabulous tome 20 years ago, and have just re-read it and enjoyed it more now than I did when I originally dove into the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. This stunning novel follows the lives of two cousins from 1939 to the mid 50s. One a refugee from Prague, one an American recovered from Polio. Both have a knack for storytelling, one via pictures one via words. Together the create a stable of comic books. Their two lives are hopelessly intertwined, yet very different. Chabon is a master storyteller as well as historian, as this beautiful tale also includes the rich history of the comic book and it's often unsung artists!

Extraordinary Powers By: Joseph Finder

Not your typical espionage story! Finder manages to add a specific twist to this tale of intrigue, that in lesser hands would have been laughable, but e deftly inserts it as a major plot line and the reader is so captivated that we go along with it! Full of twists and turns and the usual jaw-dropping surprises at the end this is a heart pounding and satisfying read!

The Moscow Club By: Joseph Finder

This is where the Finder legacy began!  An Everyman accomplishes amazing things without the aid of modern technology to thwart and international plot to destroy the US and Russia simultaneously.  Finder takes the reader on a taut journey all around the world, keeping us on the edge of our seat dropping delicious nuggets of information along the way, saving the biggest nugget until the very end!  A breathless, exhausting and totally thrilling and satisfying read!

Homegoing By: Yaa Gyasi

On the surface this is a tale of two half-sisters (unbeknownst to each other) on the Gold Coast of Africa the follows the two branches of their descendants down through the centuries to present day. Barely underneath the surface is the entire history of colonization and slavery and all that they lead too, throughout the centuries. At times a very uncomfortable and rage-inducing book to read, but this is an extraordinary writing achievement!

15 Minutes of Flame by: Christin Brecher

I'm always going to love a book that weaves history into it's storyline, and Brecher's 3rd installment in her Nantucket Candle Maker mystery series does just that. What starts as a fundraiser for Nantucket's neediest, turns into an anthropological dig at two sites and a murder investigation. Throw in the leader of a ghost tour and a creepy tv producer and a whole lot of hermit crabs and you've got the perfect blend for a great story! My only complaint is the glaring error in the last chapter of a character being in two places at the same time. I'm hoping that it is just an error in the kindle version and not in the printed version.

Murder Makes Scents By: Christin Brecher

 OOOO-a cozy that goes the extra mile into international espionage!  Stella, trying to enjoy her trip to Paris and spending time with her wayward mother finds herself entangled in a national security threat on the lovely island of Nantucket.  With plenty of intrigue, scents and a really smart cat, this second installment of the Nantucket Candle Maker mystery series is fast paced, humorous and as satisfying and cozy as a beautiful candle lit room!

 

The Glass Key By: Dashiell Hammett

I can't believe that, as a life long fan of film noir, detective and mystery stories, that I've never read anything by Dashiell Hammett! The Glass Key follows Ned Beaumont's trials and tribulations as he woks for his best friend Paul-a political mover and shaker. Told with the plainest language I've ever encountered in a book, this tale moves! It has that gritty feel that I love from film noir. Guess I'll be hitting the on-line library for more of Hammett's work!

Cult Killers Ed: Rose G. Mandelsberg

 A series of articles from Detective Magazine, that recount "cult" killings. I was hoping for more of a look at what led these people to cults, and less salaciousness and over-the-top reporting. I guess I should have researched Detective Magazine before I read the book to know what I getting into. Oh, well. 

 

House on Fire By: Joseph Finder

Joseph Finder has brought back Nick Heller in a taut thriller involving a dead friend, a powerful family and the opioid crisis. In his inimitable style, he moves the action along with short burst of information and clever dangling story lines that force the reader further into the story. Without letting up we are brought to the twist ending that hits like a punch in the gut!

Manuscript for Book 2 in a New Cozy Series

 Yet again, I've been blessed to read the manuscript of a soon to be published cozy!  This particular one will be the second book in a relatively new series.  The opening is explosive and the action doesn't let up until the end.  Wonderfully written characters with real relationships (and all that entails) are the highlight of this series.  I can't wait to read this one in it's finished form.

Blasted Past By: Walter Danley

 On paper, this book shouldn't work...and yet I was enthralled with this Western (and I don't even like Westerns), meets Fantasy, meets Romance, meets History. A stand alone novel from Danley, yet it has ties to his Wainright series.  Not wanting to give anything away...this novel follows Jim Nagle on a journey from California to Texas, and back again, in the most circuitous route-and that's about all I can say without revealing major plot points. An intriguing, engrossing and satisfying read!

 

Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door By: Barbara Ross (to be published October 2020)

No sophomore slump for Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody-not in the least!  Book 2 in this wonderful new series (due out October 2020) is set in Jane's neighborhood-right next door to be specific, and involves a truly horrifying scenario.  I don't wish to give anything away, but suffice it to say you'll be riveted and horrified all at once.  I can't rave about this series enough!

Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody By: Barbara Ross

Reclaiming the term Busybody in spectacular style, Barbara Ross has created a new character in a new series that will delight cozy fans!  Retiree, Jane Darrowfield, has a particular knack for the obvious.  She cuts through the namby-pamby ways that people/friends have of dealing with their issues, by getting straight to the point.  She's whip smart, discreet, practical and feisty. This new series start's with out introduction to Jane and her particular skills, her bridge playing friends, a high school reminiscent cliquey senior housing complex, a corpse on the golf course, and Jane's loving described Cambridge neighborhood.  With a heroine the reader can root for, an intricately plotted mystery or two, and a lot of laughs, Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody has arrived and landed squarely in this reader's heart!

Nacho Average Murder By: Maddie Day

Robbie aint' in South Lick anymore...at least for the duration of her vacation to Santa Barbara.  While attending her 10th HS Reunion, Robbie examines her mother's previous death and in the process stumbles across an agricultural company's misdeeds, a dead environmentalist, amazing food and a fascinating cast of characters.  I really enjoyed this one, but have to admit that I did miss the folks of South Lick and Robbie's usual surroundings!

A Sprinkling of Murder By: Daryl Wood Gerber

A really creative concept makes this a fun cozy.  I did think there were too many characters and too many side stories which made the story drag at points and wrapped up with too many pat conclusions.  Still fun to read.

Haunted House Murder By: Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis & Barbara Ross

Three short mysteries sent around Halloween.  The first, a Lucy Stone short (by Leslie Meier) is a charming case of jumping to conclusions, familial obligations, creepy lights and sounds and a satisfying ending.  The second, one I was not that thrilled with (by Lee Hollis) was hard to become engaged with.  At this point I don't remember the main characters name, I only remember that her husband was completely unbelievable as a character, I had to constantly remind myself that he was an adult and not a teenager.  The neighbors vacillated between creepy (which work for the story) and in some scenes neighborly which would have been fine, except they would become nasty at the drop of a hat and there was no explanation as to their behavior.  The gem of this collection is Barbara Ross' short, which is part of her delicious Clam Bake Mystery Series.  This story takes place in the off-season between books 7 and 8 in the series.  It finds Julia Snowden once again embroiled with a corpse this time during a Haunted House Trolley Tour.  It contains all of Ross' greater characters, locations and twists!  All in all, a delightful read for a chilly fall night!