30. The Flinck Connection–Estelle Ryan

Genre: Art Heist Thriller

Rating:  Did I say I loved art thieves?

Fourth entry in the Dr Genevieve Lenard series.  Jenny is a high functioning autistic woman who has somehow acquired quite the band of former thieves.  Due to past incidents they work toward recovering stolen art, but pose as crooks and cons.

This time out, they are invited to a house to see a Flinck painting, and when Colin, the art thief, checks the place out, he finds a body.

I really enjoy this series. Interesting characters, lots of fascinating interplay among them, and the art heists are cool.

29. Labyrinth–Kate Mosse

Genre:  Thriller/ Historical

Rating:  Right up my street

A volunteer on an archeological dig uncovers a cave that holds two bodies.  She discovers a ring, and sees a labyrinth carved into the wall of the cave.

This begins a deadly earnest race between two organizations who want to control the ring and use it to discover the secrets of the Grail.

I can see why some folks might not like this sort of book, but I adored it. Puzzles, ancient secrets, theories and commonly accepted beliefs turned upside down. 

It is a complete book, and although it is part of a trilogy, could certainly be read on its own. I’ll undoubtedly read the rest of the Languedoc series.

28. The Alehouse Murders–Maureen Ash

Genre: Historical Mystery

Rating: Pretty Good for the Start of a Series

Bascot de Marins is a Knight Templar, returned from the Crusades, having been held captive and then served as a slave until he’d escaped. His faith has flagged and he’s taken leave of the Templars. He’s unsure what his future path is.

The Templars arrange for him to recover his health at the Castle of Lincoln. While there, three people are found murdered at the local Alehouse. The chatelaine of the castle asks de Marin to look into the deaths and discover what he can of them.

Quite interesting setting and seems quite well researched. But there are a few places where I felt modern ideas intruded into the atmosphere that bothered me a bit.

The mystery was pretty complex and I was unsure of the identity of the murderer until quite near the end, which is a surprise for me.

27. Pandora’s Star–Peter F. Hamilton

Genre: Space Opera

Rating: Whoa!

Humans are scattered throughout the Galaxy. Their civilization is surprisingly peaceful, prosperous, and integrated with multiple aliens.

But then a dyson sphere is placed around two worlds and they feel they need to discover if it  spheres are for protection from an invading alien race, or instead is it there to stop whoever is on those worlds from escaping.

Then things really begin to go wrong.

Great space opera, encompassing multiple societies and lots of surprising alien viewpoints.

My only complaint is the book ends with cliff hangers. But at least there is only one more book in the series.

26. Charming–Elliot James

Genre: urban/country fantasy

Rating: I’m liking it!

First in the Pax Arcana series.

A blonde walks into a bar.  And the bartender avoids her. He knows she’s not human. He’s not quite human. But when the vampire walks in they end up having to work together whether he likes it or not. And just how did she know his name was John?

So much for hiding out in a small NC town.

Fun and quite well developed world a bit reminiscent of the Dresden Files, in that John is a reluctant hero, but not a mage. Told in the first person, we learn not only about John’s problems but he gives an ongoing commentary about fighting vampires.

25. City of Bones–Martha Wells

Genre:  SFF, Post-Apocalyptic

Rating: Very Good

Quite an interesting take on post-apocalyptic fiction. With well drawn and complex characters, and an interesting world. the magic is intriguing also.  Too bad it’s a stand alone. I’d like to read more of this world.

23 – A Red Herring Without Mustard – Alan Bradley

 

Genre: Period Mystery

Rating: Pure Flavia

The third entry in the Flavia DeLuce series, has Flavia mixed up with Gypsies and old fears and murder!

Flavia is at her most stubbornly determined when she finds an old gypsy woman beaten near to death. She just can’t let it drop, of course, and keeps digging to find out whodunit, even in the face of yet another murder.

Flavia is, I realize an acquired taste, one some folks never quite get used to, but I do adore her. And some of the things she says and does brings back my own childhood so doubly a reason I adore her.

21. Lament for a Maker–Michael Innes

Genre: Golden Age Mystery

Rating: Convoluted and Intriguing.

Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Third in the John Appleby mystery series.

As with all the Appleby books, extremely literary and quite convoluted. Quite a few twists and turns I did not see coming.

I do enjoy the series, even if it shows up my poor literary education.

20. Quicksilver–Neal Stephenson

Genre: Alt History/Historical Fiction/SFF

Rating:  Wow

I’ve been putting off saying anything about this book, because I wasn’t sure how to put it. It is an ambitious book, a retelling of the history of science, taking on the change from alchemy to science, and the massive social changes coming from the Reformation and the Plague.

If you don’t like science, you probably won’t like it. We meet many of the fathers of science, and they aren’t always figures to look up to, at least not personally, even if they are brilliant and driven.

I found it fascinating.

19. The City & The City–China Mieville

Genre: Urban Fantasy Noir

Rating: Amazing

Mieville has an ability to imagine world and city-scapes that are so alien and fascinating.

Two cities/two worlds superimposed over each other, where citizens of one must ‘unsee’ those of the other. Areas of shared scape or totally separate cities, intermixed who knows how or why. The citizens just have to live there.

A detective of one city finds a dead body.  But he begins to suspect that this isn’t only about his city, and that means the mysterious Breach might be involved, the mystery that citizens of both cities fear.

Again, Mieville creates a world that is as much a character in the story as the humans living in it. Wonderfully imaginative, nicely noir and convincingly complex.

18. The Last Kingdom–Bernard Cornwell

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: Good

I confess to knowing nothing whatsoever about this period in Britian’s history so I have no idea how accurate the historical details are, although Cornwell does say something with regard to that in the afterward.

The action takes place when the Danes were overrunning England and had captured essentially most of it with the exception of West Sussex where Alfred, to be called Alfred the Great, is keeping them at bay.

The tale is told by a young man whose family is killed in a Danish attack. The boy attempts to kill one of the Danish leaders, Ragnar, and is subsequently adopted by the same fellow. He finds the young boy’s spirit that of a Dane and a Viking, and so the boy grows up as a Dane, learning how they fight, how they believe and how they think. He still dreams of his home though, and secretly wants the Danes out and the English to regain their homeland.

The story follows the boy’s life up until he is grown and finds himself torn between the two worlds.

Intriguing character development and interesting to me as I knew nothing about the Vikings nearly conquering England.

17. The Midwich Cuckoos–John Wyndham

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: Very Good

Made into the movie Village of the Damned.

A small town of no known importance is suddenly blocked off from the rest of the world, and all its inhabitants are cut down. At first the authorities assume they are all dead. Instead they discover the people and animals and every living thing in Midwich is asleep. After 24 hours, everyone awakes and all appear to be fine.

But then it is discovered that every woman of child bearing age who has been hit by the DayOut is with child.

Very intriguing take on alien invasions. Quite different from the movie, of course.

16. Waystation–Clifford Simak

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: Quite Good

Originally published in 1963.  Hugo Award winner and deservedly so.

Enoch is a quiet man. He keeps to himself and gives his neighbors no reason to be upset with him. He has little to do with anyone other than getting his mail and buying supplies now and again.

The neighbors do notice, however, that he has lived far longer than is normal, but well, he’s no trouble and nice enough so no one wants to make waves about weird goings on.

No one guesses that this quiet man is keeper of an intergalactic way station where aliens arrive most days, say awhile to rest, then continue on their light year journeys.  Until, that is, a deaf mute girl local girl seeks his help from her abusive family. 

The rest, as they say, is history.

Told in a very quiet, simple way, with an intriguing premise and interesting characters.

15. The Iron Jackal – Chris Wooding

Genre: Steampunk, SFF

Rating:  Very Good

Third episode in the Tales of the Ketty Jay series, our ‘heroes’ are feeling pretty smug. For a change, things are going fairly well. That is, until Frey decides to do a train job. From their things definitely get buggered.

Pirates, thieves, outcasts, former slaves, and a demonologist on the run make up the crew of the Ketty Jay. Lots of shades of Firefly in many parts, particularly The Train Job!

I love the characters. Everyone is a mess, and doing their best to make do with what they are, and somehow remain part of a crew.

Frey, leader of the crew, is shallow, narcissistic, and knows it. But for the first time in his life, he’s beginning to actually feel responsible for his crew and aware of his limitations. And is trying to do better.  We’ll see if he can manage it!

15. The Dreaming Void – Peter F. Hamilton

Genre: Space Opera

Rating: Very Good!

It is the far future and humankind have spread across the stars, and met a host of alien species. Wars are over, and things are going pretty well. Except for this massive thing sitting in the middle of the Galaxy. At first it is thought to be a black hole devouring the Galaxy, but then it becomes clear it is something else entirely.

Then one man, an astrophysicist who is studying it, begins to dream.  Through the existing tech that connects the worlds, his dream is broadcast across the stars and people begin to believe that within the Void humans live and are happy and prosper. This spawns a religion around the Dreamer, Inigo.

But after several centuries, the Dreamer disappears. Has he died? Or has he simply pulled out of society and hidden himself somewhere.

Then, suddenly, there is a second Dreamer. This sparks the Living Dream, the religion spawned around the first Dreamer, to suddenly awaken from its slumber and call for a pilgrimage into the Void.  But many scientists, and all the alien species, rise up in alarm, afraid such a thing will cause the Void to speed up and begin, once again, to destroy worlds and civilizations as it chews its way through the Galaxy. The pilgrimage must be stopped!

Hamilton does a great job at creating a Galactic civilization, Religion, and people who are complex and intriguing. The societies are various, with different worlds having quite different problems and opportunities, not to mention goals. Some people, the wealthy of course, live for centuries, and have augmented bodies and minds, and a mental connection to the mass of humanity through the vast gaianet that lets thoughts and dreams spread across worlds and peoples.

I’m excited to read the next outing. Oh, and Fifty Shades doesn’t hold a candle to the future folks and their versions of sex and erotica.

13. Foxglove Summer – Ben Aaronovitch

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Police Procedural

Rating: Excellent

Peter Grant, city boy down to his tiny toes, has to trek off to the wilds of the British countryside, when two little girls vanish.  Just due diligence, just to make sure there wasn't any supernatural critter involved in the abduction.

'The Starling' as he finds himself called, learns a whole lot on this jaunt:  about bees, about himself, about his boss, and about the aspects of magic in the countryside. Not to mention the unicorn and castle.

Excellent addition to the series.

Decline and Fall – Evelyn Waugh and Beauvallet – Georgette Heyer

Evelyn Waugh’s first novel, written in 1928, a satire of the British public school system, with our hero having been sent down, landing a job at a public school of questionable value. Not as good as some of his later books, but quite funny nonetheless.

 

Written in 1929, Heyer’s 5th novel, follows the adventures and romances of a pirate, Beauvallet, and the Spanish lady he captures when he attacks a Spanish ship. He decides he must have her, even if he has to risk his neck by going to Spain to get her.

Lots of intrigue and adventures even if  Nick has all the fun and poor Dominica has to just wait to be rescued.  Not my favorite Heyer, but it does have its virtues.

9 and 10 Books for the Year.

9. Pride and Prejudice – Jan Austen

Not much to say. My umpteenth reread of it.  Great fun.

 

10. The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley

Genre: Historical Mystery

Rating: Very Good!

I know a lot of people find Flavia DeLuce annoying, but I think she’s utterly hilarious and I envy her dreadfully for being so interesting and complex.

Terrific characters, and intriguing world.

Wonderful series I’ll happily continue.

8. Willful Child – Steven Erikson

Genre: Sci Fi Parody

Rating: Good

This is an all out over-the-top parody of Star Trek. Take all the silliness of the original series, stir, and and a biting wit, and you get The Willful Child.

If you adore Star Trek, don’t read it. Unless, of course, you can admit that the series was fun rather than an example of serious Sci Fi.

6. A Dark-Adapted Eye–Barbara Vine

Genre: Historical Mystery

Rating: Very Good

I had no idea when I began reading this that this book would dredge up so many childhood memories. I’m sure the pain of revisiting some of that colors my thoughts regarding it, but I will say that the book was riveting, emotional, and very much a story that could only happen during the timeframe it is set. Times have changed, attitudes are different, circumstances would be very different at other times.

It is the story of a murder, dredged up from the narrator’s past, when a writer contacts the family and wants to write a book about the murder and the circumstances of the murderer’s life.

The narrator, Faith, revisits what she knows, what she didn’t learn until too late, what she thinks is true, and how it is that the truth is never clear or logical.

Very much a psychological tale, examining all the characters in an extended family and how secrets and lies lead up to misery and hatred.

My personal experience is that lies and family secrets most certainly do that.

5. Thieftaker – D.B. Jackson

Genre: Alternate History

Rating: Interesting!

We’re in 1765 Boston, where Sam Adams and his buddies are beginning to stir up Boston against the Crown and its taxes. During a night where the rabble attack and break into three houses of prominent Bostonians, a girl is found dead, with no apparent wound on her.

It turns out the girl is from another prominent Boston family and so Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker, a conjuror, and a convicted felon, is called in to search for a valuable brooch she was wearing, and if he can, to find out who killed her.

I thought the setting was drawn very well, the miseries of the poor in Boston and the relatively easy life of the wealthy made all too clear. The magical system was intriguing.  Ethan, who’d nearly been hung as a witch, but had been instead sent to Barbados to work in the sugar cane fields, is hiding in plain sight. People ‘know’ he’s a conjuror/witch, but mostly because he’s been no threat, they leave him alone. But when he’s employed by a wealthy merchant to find out about the merchant’s daughter, that draws way too much attention to Ethan and he finds himself up against not only the only other thieftaker in Boston, but also up against a conjuror far stronger than he.

I’ll definitely be continuing this series.

4. The Remains of the Day] – Kazuo Ishiguro

Genre: historical fiction

Rating: Good

The story of one man’s life as a butler during the run-up to World War II.

I’m unsure what to say about this book. Beautifully written, but depressing and rather hopeless. Talk about living your life through others and letting them be your conscience and your guide.  But he certainly maintains his dignity throughout.

3. To Say Nothing of the Dog – Connie Willis

Genre: Speculative Fiction/Time Travel

Rating: Very very good!

The second book of the Oxford Time Travel Series.  The first book, The Doomsday Book, dealt with the Black Death. This one is a comedy of manners, and takes place during WWII, involving the search for some missing artifacts from Coventry Cathedral which was bombed during the war.

Tongue in cheek from the very beginning, poor Ned is sent through time to jumble sales all over England in search of ‘The Bishop’s Bird Stump’ an admitted atrocity of Victorian proportions but still wanted to go into a reconstruction of the cathedral.

But time goes awry nearly from the beginning when a young woman save a cat from drowning, and Ned adopts Cyril the bulldog. So suddenly the problem is finding what has messed up the future, to say nothing of retrieving the cat who is accidentally transported into the future.

Highly recommended!

1. Black Ships–Jo Graham

Genre: Historical Fiction/Magical Realism

Rating: Very Very Good

A retelling of the Aeneid, through the eyes of a young girl enslaved when Troy falls. She is hurt, and no longer able to work, is then given to the temple of the Lady of the Dead as an acolyte, who when grown, becomes the chosen of the Lady and the Sybil to Aeneas.

Written beautifully, plainly and clearly told with no fake embellishments,  moving and engrossing.

What a great book to start the year with.