2. When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman
A long painful journey through the 12th century, with constantly warring families, burning pillaging and raping towns across England and northern France. The first half of the book is almost unremittingly grim. A few people stand out, but mostly it is the tale of the war and its horrors for the common people, and the justifications of the powerful. I didn't/couldn't pick a side, as both sides were stubborn and cared little (although they whinged about it) regarding the horrors they were doing - only mostly complaining about what the other side was doing, even as they did the same things themselves. I don't see why any commoner would love any of them. The second half was much better, as it got down to personalities and we got to see Henry and Eleanor and pay more attention to the bastard Ranulf who seemed one of the few decent fellows in the first half. Worth the read, despite all of that, and I'll definitely continue on with the series.
3. Montmorency - Gentleman, Liar, Thief? - Eleanor Updale
An audiobook narrated by Stephen Fry. An odd tale of a prisoner used as a guinea pig, who, upon release, plots to show up everyone whose written him off.
An odd little tale, and far lighter than you'd think, given the themes.
4. After the Armistice Ball] - Catriona McPherson
Dandy is a woman of privilege who appears rather ditzy. A friend of hers asks her to use her ability to appear innocuous to investigate an acquaintance who is attempting to extort some money from the woman's husband. Dandy is on the case.
I found getting used to the book a bit diffuclt, the writing giving me some problems at first. But After a few Chapters that problem disappeared and I enjoyed the characterizations and Dandy a lot.
Light cozy and fun.
5. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Jackson Brodie attracts all the weird cases. He's not sure why but he's got more than his fair share at the moment. He feels like he's Lost and Found, rather than a private detective, and he seems to be doing badly on the finding part. He's searching for a little girl who disappeared 20 some years ago, a killer who killed a teenager some 10 years ago, a missing niece (daughter of an ax murderer), not to mention the cats.
He's got more than his fair share of personal problems too. He dreams about retiring to France. He also dreams about his dead sister.
A different sort of mystery story, with seemingly unrelated stories told separately, and in personal detail, which eventually sort of come together. Some he solves, others he never understands.
I liked how deeply we get to see into the victim's minds and lives. A very different approach when told from their POV.
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