Recent reading
62. Georgette Heyer: They Found Him Dead
This was a very traditional Agatha Christie-esque mystery tale set in a family mansion, and included suspicious deaths and inheritance struggles, etc. I hadn't read any of Heyer's mysteries before. This was a nice enough read, but I still prefer her historical romances.
63. Charlaine Harris: Shakespeare's Landlord
64. Charlaine Harris: Shakespeare's Champion
I've been curious about the another series Charlaine Harris writes, since she a few different kinds of series in progress. I've previously read all the available book in her Sookie Stackhouse "Southern Vampires" series and Grave Sight, the first book in a new series.
The Lily Bard mysteries' heroine cleans houses and at the same time solves mysteries in the of Shakespeare. Like Harris's other main protagonists, Lily, too, has been scarred by her past experiences that are still a great influence on the choices she makes. These books are clearly darker in tone than the other books I've read by her.
In the first book, Shakespeare's Landlord, Lily is taking a walk late at night, because she can't sleep, and sees someone dumping a body in a nearby park. As she investigates some more, she discovers that the body belongs to the landlord owning the neighbouring apartment complex. She hesitates to go to the police, but in the end makes an anonymous call to the local sheriff.
Slowly she starts putting clues together and get involved in the murder investigation. Her personal life is also warming up as she is getting closer to the owner of a local gym where she goes for karate lessons and toning her body.
I liked the first book and Lily seemed like an interesting character. However, Shakespeare's Champion wasn't IMO as good and made me hesitate a bit about this series. The sequence of events doesn't really flow that well and some of the choices the characters make feel like total opposites of what might have expected based on the first book.
I guess I'll just borrow the books, since I don't think I'll be buying any of this series for myself.
65. Christopher Grey: Leonardo's Shadow, Or, My Astonishing Life as Leonardo da Vinci's Servant (review book)
This was a historical adventure tale told in the first person by Giocomo, 15-year-old servant to Leonardo da Vinci. The main story involves Giocomo's search for his identity, Leonardo & his households money troubles and how they connect to the painting of "The Last Supper", building one of Leonardo's inventions, some intrigue, etc. Very readable.
Next weekend is another long weekend since May Day is a public holiday. I'm picking up my sister's kids tomorrow after work and we'll go for a visit to my mother's. We are coming back on Sunday, since my sister wants to spend the May Day with her children, but she and her husband will now have a two nights holiday as I fulfill my auntly duties :).
This was a very traditional Agatha Christie-esque mystery tale set in a family mansion, and included suspicious deaths and inheritance struggles, etc. I hadn't read any of Heyer's mysteries before. This was a nice enough read, but I still prefer her historical romances.
63. Charlaine Harris: Shakespeare's Landlord
64. Charlaine Harris: Shakespeare's Champion
I've been curious about the another series Charlaine Harris writes, since she a few different kinds of series in progress. I've previously read all the available book in her Sookie Stackhouse "Southern Vampires" series and Grave Sight, the first book in a new series.
The Lily Bard mysteries' heroine cleans houses and at the same time solves mysteries in the of Shakespeare. Like Harris's other main protagonists, Lily, too, has been scarred by her past experiences that are still a great influence on the choices she makes. These books are clearly darker in tone than the other books I've read by her.
In the first book, Shakespeare's Landlord, Lily is taking a walk late at night, because she can't sleep, and sees someone dumping a body in a nearby park. As she investigates some more, she discovers that the body belongs to the landlord owning the neighbouring apartment complex. She hesitates to go to the police, but in the end makes an anonymous call to the local sheriff.
Slowly she starts putting clues together and get involved in the murder investigation. Her personal life is also warming up as she is getting closer to the owner of a local gym where she goes for karate lessons and toning her body.
I liked the first book and Lily seemed like an interesting character. However, Shakespeare's Champion wasn't IMO as good and made me hesitate a bit about this series. The sequence of events doesn't really flow that well and some of the choices the characters make feel like total opposites of what might have expected based on the first book.
I guess I'll just borrow the books, since I don't think I'll be buying any of this series for myself.
65. Christopher Grey: Leonardo's Shadow, Or, My Astonishing Life as Leonardo da Vinci's Servant (review book)
This was a historical adventure tale told in the first person by Giocomo, 15-year-old servant to Leonardo da Vinci. The main story involves Giocomo's search for his identity, Leonardo & his households money troubles and how they connect to the painting of "The Last Supper", building one of Leonardo's inventions, some intrigue, etc. Very readable.
Next weekend is another long weekend since May Day is a public holiday. I'm picking up my sister's kids tomorrow after work and we'll go for a visit to my mother's. We are coming back on Sunday, since my sister wants to spend the May Day with her children, but she and her husband will now have a two nights holiday as I fulfill my auntly duties :).