57. The Black Moth – Georgette Heyer

I am astonished it’s taken me so long to read Georgette Heyer. I guess the ‘romance’ label has kept me away. But I determined to read more of her (I’ve read several of her mysteries, and one or two other books of hers), so decided to try to read her in publication order.

The Black Moth was her first book, and it is quite witty and sassy and interesting. The story follows a young woman who has caught the attention of a rogue, who determines to kidnap her and do his worst with her.

The hero of the piece is enjoyable although the set up is a bit far-fetched. The heroine is not a wilting violet so I was delighted with that.:)

56. A Burial at Sea – Charles Finch

The sixth installment in the Charles Lenox series, a period mystery series.

Charles, recently elected to parliment, is tasked by his elder brother, to travel on a British Navy ship, and visit the Suez Canal and write up a report for Parliament on how Britain can outwit France in regard to the canal. He’s also given a secret mission, to make contact with a British spy and learn what he has found out about France’s intentions.

His nephew is assigned to the ship as he begins his military service and Charles is happy to keep an eye on the young man for his father as well.

But since it is Charles, of course the sea journey proves to be the most dangerous part of the mission, when shortly after leaving port, a crew member is found dead.

I enjoyed Charles having to get out of his comfort zone.

55. Midnight in Europe - Alan Furst

 

  

Furst is in his element in painting the febrile underside of life in Europe in the late 1930s as everyone knows a war is coming. He focuses in this book on expats from Spain who are attempting to send armament to the Republic despite the efforts of a number of countries to interfere in their efforts. Russia and Germany are both building up their own armaments so do not want those resources sent to Spain. Furst is very good at atmosphere and tension, and as usual downplays the violence, although there is some. He creates believable and complex characters who are multi-faceted and nowhere near what 007 taught us to expect of our spies.

53. The Doomsday Book - Connie Willis

Historians who travel back in time necessarily take a lot of risks. But when Kivrin goes back things definitely go pear-shaped.  Firstly, she arrives extremely ill, and nearly dies, and then things go from bad to worse.

Meanwhile, back in her own time, a major outbreak starts up and puts the team who she hopes will open the net to retrieve her are equally ill and have no idea that she isn’t where she should be, but is instead in the midst of the Black Death.

I can see where some people found this book repetitive and slow going. It is that, especially in the first 200 pages or so. But at the same time, it is riveting, and emotional and awesome in its breadth and depth of understanding.

52. Merchant's House - Kate Ellis

First in a series. Wes Petersen is newly assigned as a detective sergeant to Tradmouth, a small city on the coast of Devon. When he arrives he finds that a friend of his is heading up a dig nearby. Wes has a degree in archaeology, so wants to spend free time with his buddy Neil and hear about what they are discovering. In the meantime, a woman is found murdered and he’s drawn immediately into a complex and baffling case. Do they even know who the murdered woman is?

I found the mystery a bit too easy, but I liked the characters and the setting was well drawn. I love the parallel to what is being discovered at the dig with what is happening in current day. It seems little changes over time. Little that matters, anyway.

51. Half a King – Joe Abercrombie

Prince Yarvi, with a withered hand, has always known he'd never be king. His father and his older brother are warriors. He's perfectly content to become a minister, and for this he is suited. He's smart and clever (not the same thing).

But then all his plans go awry. His father and his brother are killed by treachery. And he's drawn into a complex world he's not equipped for. Then things really get bad.

This is Joe Abercrombie's first shot at YA fiction.  His adult fiction is bloody and uncompromising and deals with multiple layers of morality. I'm delighted to say the only thing that has changed in this book, is the level of violence.  His world is still just as complex and multilayered and his characters have to try to wend their way through choices that are bad, worse and impossible to make.

Very nice job.

50. The Dante Connection - Estelle Ryan

A fun romp with a woman who has highly functional autism and who has been befriended (to her amazement) by a thief and his cronies. Second of the series. If you like art theft and puzzle solving females, this is a fun read.