Colonel Mustard used a FOREIGN object & a Rope in the Ballroom

It feels like a stretch for FOREIGN to describe Britain, but I'm going for it.

For the prompt FOREIGN I'm using the 1st book from the Casual Christie Club: (which cover do you prefer? There are dozens more, if these don't suit you!)

   
      
 

Regardez!  La version française - maintenant, c'est plus éstranger!

March Mystery Madness challenge #5 The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Dame Agatha Christie (#Iamnotworthy).

This is the first of her books & we meet M.Poirot.  Club lead by my booktube crush, The Big-Haired Bookwork.  

This is a reread but it's been decades.  
(And is there a more yucky color than mustard?  I don't think so...)

sash

Professor Plum gave a(n) HISTORICAL lecture in the Study with a Candlestick

There are so many great historical mysteries.  In fact, my selection for the SHELF challenge is set between the wars.

Hmmm - I'll select an audiobook for this one.  One already loaded to my phone.

For the prompt HISTORICAL I'm going with 

March Mystery Madness challenge #4 A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang.

The setting is New York City (1918-1919) - just past the gilded age & right in the midst of the influenza epidemic.

It seems funny that this "historical" piece is about the year my sweet daddy was born (1919).  I guess we all become history eventually, yeah?

sash

Mrs Peacock concocted a NEW Poison in the Conservatory

Never turning down the opportunity to purchase a book...

Added another title to my #MarchMysteryMadness TBR: The prompt is NEW.

I just happened to see, in the Wicked Wednesday newsletter, that a new book was released 2/27/2018.  It's in an established (but new to me) series.

Sounds like a match!

Challenge #3 for March Mystery Madness is I Know What You Bid Last Summer by Sherry Harris.

(Is that Mrs Peacock's hat in the background there?)

sash

Mr Green hid the Lead Pipe on the SHELF in the Lbrary

I know that there are full TBR lists out there for the #MarchMysteryMadness.

I'm not that organized.

But it is March 1st & I am starting today, so that's not bad!

The prompt is SHELF.

SO

• I went to Goodreads, 
• pulled up my shelf titled "To Be Read - on the Stacks" (meaning I own the book in some format), 
• sorted by "date added" (oldest first), and 
• selected the first mystery on that particular "shelf"

First up for March Mystery Madness is Fine Spirits by Alice Duncan.
It's been on my shelf since November 26, 2013.  Yeah.  2013.  I dunno why.  I really enjoyed the first book in this series.  When it comes to books I'm sorta like a kid with lots of toys.  I forget how excited I was about one as soon as another shiny book comes my way.

But today is the day. 

So what are YOU reading??

sash

The OTHER March Madness!!

Mystery Madness


296 members
2018 March Mystery Madness Challenge Group.

The center of every mystery novel is a puzzle. A puzzle for the reader and sleuth to solve as one. Through a thread of events stretched into a 200+ page funhouse of mirrors. If you love puzzles and the deconstruction of peace in the face of chaos. Or have an appetite for "sleight of hand" narratives and misleading plots (add a stream of frustrating red herrings). Then you’re in the right place to share your delight in the mystery genre.

View this group on Goodreads »



What a PERFECT reading challenge, right??  I might have a couple mysteries on my TBR list (just a couple though).

So grab a cozy or a true crime and join me!  There are groups on Goodreads & hashtags on Instagram & many videos on booktube.  

Go Read!  (and watch out for those red herrings!)

xo

sash

I wanna be Miss Armstrong!!

These

 Three

Books!     

I stumbled upon the first one, which was WONDERFUL.   Excited to read the whole series, I devoured book 2 & then discovered, woe is me, that book 3 was only just released!!  Why did I assume there were 10-15 of these in the world already?

Sigh.

Cozy mysteries with amazing female characters & a delightful supporting cast, these are a perfect summer read.

The audible version is terrific.  I "read" it at 1.35 speed.

xoxo
sash

Binge Reading

How did I find the first book?  NO IDEA!  Goodreads or Amazon or Bookbub... I seem to add to my TBR list everywhere.  So THANK YOU to the universe for this one:

Which is the fourth in a series, but it totally didn't matter.  I was HOOKED on the story, the setting, & the characters.  The lead is a strong woman - flawed but not ridiculous, with passion & problems & massive skills.  

 So I quickly devoured:

       

                          And this great 
                           little novella: 






They were ALL delightful.  The audible versions are great fun.  They are perfect cozy romps & I hope that Gretchen Archer is busy writing the next installment.  I can hardly WAIT to see what's next!!

xo
sash

Bewitched

Don't be mislead by the title.  This will NOT be a list of Halloween (Samhain) appropriate books.  I don't do scary, creepy, spooky, or terror.  Remember, if you can't imagine the book being translated to the screen by the Muppets, then it's probably too scary for me.

I'm referencing the not-at-all-spooky Samantha Stevens - the main character from the Bewitched TV show.  Ah.... what a great show.  One of her many powers was the ability to twitch her nose & make time freeze.  Completely stop!  She (& whoever needed a quick talking to) would continue on while the rest of the world was on pause.  Then, a finger snap from Sam, & everyone finished sipping their martinis & wagging their fingers at Darwin.

I've always wanted this power.  Just think of it!  In addition to meeting deadlines with ease, just think of the NAPS I could take!  Chores wouldn't interfere with fun times because I could just hop into a time bubble, clean the bathroom, take a shower, have a cup of coffee & snap back into the time stream!

And the books!  My to-be-read list grows every day.  I read a lot & pretty quickly, but I can acquire new books even faster.  All those authors out there adding to the literary world - how can I possibly keep up?  tinkle-inkle-ink - instant reading bubble.  Such a heavenly daydream...

But it is just a daydream.  Aside from the obvious flaw in this plan - my inability to stop time or even, truth be told, wiggle my nose - there are other issues.

As mentioned, I read a lot.  Science fiction has covered this particular power many times.  Whether by supernatural, mechanical, or quantum means, this power has popped up in The Twilight Zone, Arthur C. Clark anthologies, Star Trek, Harry Potter (sorta),  From nuclear war to aging & insanity, this plan is always doomed.  

So I can't read all the books.

Dang.

But I can read a LOT of books.  And knowing that I can't read them all might free me up to dive into the pile wherever and whenever I want.

Which is convenient since, you know, that's already what I do.

I should probably reset my Goodreads Goal for 2016 too.  I blew past that & there are still 3 months to go.

xo
sash

Book Release!

A new book & new-to-me author that I'm excited to check out.  Metro Diaries - 2 releases on September 1st.  

Here's what the press packet says:


Give life another chance.
        Laugh a little longer.
Let go of your past.
        Hold onto what you love.

In short, LIVE rather than just exist!

Some told, some untold, some heard & some unheard - this collection of stories will make you look at life in a different light & make you ponder over its definition of it till now.

And what reviewers are saying:

• After touching your hearts with 'Metro Diaries - Love Classics' she is back now with stories that will redefine life for you!

• The stories in Metro Diaries - Love Classics are free from any trappings of youthful slang and fashionable language stunts. These young adults are speaking to the readers with Namrata’s maturity shining through, and Namrata’s ideas of love. - Sakshi Nanda

• The language is fairly pleasant to read and the elaborate discussions between characters in each story must have taken a lot of work – because the most difficult job of all authors is to bring out human emotions in proper words. Thankfully, Namrata has concentrated upon it very well! - Dhivya Balaji

About the Author:

Namrata is 

A Lost Wanderer who loves travelling the length and breadth of the world.

A published author in various anthologies and magazines she enjoys capturing the magic of life in her words.

She is forever in pursuit of a new country and a new story.


I'm planning to read a LOT this weekend, & this book will be at the top of the list.

- sash

Posted in conjunction with 

Book Bucks!

This is a good way to shake up a Tuesday:


"  Your Credit from the Apple eBooks

    Antitrust Settlement Is Ready to Use  "

Sweet.  An Amazon credit?

I'll be right book!

err.... Back!

xo

sash

Cat's out of the bag!

What's not fascinating about Egyptian Mythology?

Amazing creatures, complex family trees - groves - whatever.  Violence, seduction, double-cross, & heroism.

In Daughter of the Sun by Zoe Kalo, the full drama of Egyptology is the backdrop for this fantasy, thriller, coming-of-age story.

Book One of the Cult of the Cat Series, introduces us to plucky orphan, Trinity.  We go with Trinity when she is reunited with her only living relative.

On an island.

Full of cats.

Things get weird fast.  First just "that was odd" kinda weird.  Then "What?  WHAT?!?" kinda weird.

The story & characters pulled me into the book.  The backstory was richly non-obtrusive.  It's a fantasy, sure, but I never felt my credibility over-stretched.

I give the book a 4 out of 5 & recommend it for advanced middle school & up.

Important note:  I received a free advance copy of this book.  All opinions & ratings are my own.

This Review is a part of the Blogger Outreach Program by b00k r3vi3w Tours

So, this is cool...

Yeah - clearly I'm more active on Goodreads than I am here, on my very own blog.  Hey - I'm working on it!

On Facebook this week, the question was asked: if we wanted to summon you, what 3 items should be placed in the circle?  Well, obviously a bobbin, a bokken, and a book!

xo
sash