Witch Hunt By: Cate Conte

Witch Hunt, is the first book in  Cate Conte's delightful new series.  This was such fun to read, and despite the dead body, and the 'witchy" happenings, it left me with a sense of joy after having read it. Vi (Violet Mooney), our heroine owns a crystal shop in North Harbor.  A relatively happy-go-lucky type of person, has her world turned upside down when North harbor's most reviled town councilor ends up dead, and Vi ends up in the police's cross-hairs as the main suspect.  Oh...and her mother, whom she hasn't seen since she was 5 suddenly appears (literally) to upend her life even more.  Seriously, one of the most enjoyable cozies I've read.  Can't wait for Book 2!

Overture to Death By: Ngaio Marsh

Anything related to the theatre is a winner in my book...add an ingenious murder to the mix and you've definitely got my attention.  Marsh's ability to effortlessly plant seeds of doubt among every character without making it obvious is astonishing.  The ending is completely satisfying and all the clues are there and accounted for.  Roderick Alleyn's debonair bearing and unshakeable calm, coupled with Fox's sly nonchalance is a wonderful combination!

Spinsters in Jeopardy By: Ngaio Marsh

I have to say, I wasn't all that impressed with this one.  It dragged endlessly, the main mystery took a back seat for most of the story, such that it's easy to forget about it entirely.  This one didn't capture my attention like other Alleyn mysteries have.

A Grave Mistak By: Ngaio Marsh

A lovely village, quaint characters very concerned with their gardens, ad a couple of corpses-what more could one wish for in English mystery!  Take a delightful romp through numerous gardens, a shady character, histrionics and thick Scottish accents, mix well, a dash of the dashing Alleyn and the sly, wry Fox and you've a recipe for a classic Marsh mystery.

Ultimate X-Men By: Peter Sanderson

The X-Men (and all it's variant iterations) have always been my favorite comic, and this history of the X-Men is exceptional!  A look at the X-Men from it's inception in the 60s, the reader is taken on a decode by decade journey through the changing faces, timelines and stories of the X-Men and it's off-shoots.  Full of fascinating facts and the amazing visuals of the original illustrators, this is a compendium worth treasuring for any X-Men fan!

You Can't Know This By: Dwayne Alexander Smith

Creepy, Creepy, Creepy!  This short story will have you completely creeped out, but unable to turn away.  Part horror story, part mystery, completely original!  The reader won't be able to put this down!

Six Days in August By: David King o Be Published: August 2020

An in depth look at the hostage situation in Sweden in the early 70's, that for good, or bad, led to the term and the concept of Stockholm Syndrome.  Part thriller; part Swedish social history; part comment on the power/menace of the media; part psychological treatise; this exceptionally researched book will grip you from beginning to end.  The absolutely amazing accomplishment of this book, is that the reader gets a little taste of what the hostages may have felt during their six days of captivity, in that the reader does find themselves sympathizing with the captors and can understand why the hostages acted the way they did.  I admit that with the caveat that this reader never forgot that the hostages would never have been in that situation in the first place if Janne hadn't taken them hostage in the first place.  But because of this strange dichotomy of thoughts, I could easily see why the hostages could seem to have been sympathetic to their captors.  David King does an amazing job at presenting all sides of the story, without judgement, which is no small task.  A fascinating read!

Cry of Murder on Broadway By Julie Miller To Be Published: October 2020

Don't let the title fool you-while you will be told of the cry of murder on Broadway that is the result of a woman's ruin and revenge in old New York, what you are also getting is a meticulously researched and simply presented story of how one person's small action can contribute to huge changes.  This is the butterfly effect told through the lens of the Amelia Norman case.  While the crime of the story is the impetus, it's really the story of how the laws of this country are set up by men to protect men.  While this story focuses on how the laws disenfranchise women specifically, it is easy to see how the same attitudes led to laws that disenfranchised other populations as well; and how even when those laws are changed, seemingly to the advantage of the disenfranchised, it is really still to the advantage of the ones making the laws.  Julie Miller lays out the facts and the history in a simple straight forward manner, and it is because of this simplicity that the facts, the history and the injustices (that unfortunately are still VERY MUCH in existence today) are so effectively, powerfully and stunningly conveyed.

The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding By: Agatha Christie

A fun Yuletide romp with Poirot on the hunt for a missing ruby.  A house full of guests, a plum pudding, a mysteries note and a practical joke all lead to a playful twist and another satisfactory conclusion to this Poirot short.

Teen Titans: A Celebration of 50 Years By: Various Illustrators & Writers

It's always great to walk down memory lane and revisit the comics I loved as a kid.  Still a huge fan of the 80's Teen Titan line up, and Raven is still my favorite Titan!