Full disclosure: I had to read this quickly in one sitting in a coffee shop because I was going to see the author and have her sign it a few hours later. I’d pre-ordered City of Ghosts, but given when it was actually shipped (the day after it was released), I didn’t receive it until Saturday, and the talk/signing was Sunday. Mission was accomplished though, so I guess no harm done. I hadn’t realized this but City of Ghosts is actually V.E./Victoria Schwab’s first middle […]
I am an incurable, and nothing else behaves like me
This book was just a lot of fun. 44 Scotland Street is a serial novel that was originally published in an Edinburgh newspaper. It takes place in Edinburgh, focusing mainly on the inhabitants of the titular apartment building. Among other characters, there’s Pat, a college-aged woman taking her “second gap year,” Bertie, a high-achieving 6-year-old with a helicopter mother, Domenica, the resident wise Mrs. Madrigal-type, and Bruce, who is honestly a completely fascinating character. In fact, while Pat is nominally the main character, and Bertie […]
I swear, Ian Rankin, if you kill John Rebus, I will come after you.
2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Ian Rankin’s John Rebus series, one of my favorite literary detectives. Like Harry Bosch, Kurt Wallender, and even my beloved Bill Hodges, Rebus is a cop who’s very life revolves around his work. His family and non-police friends have mostly disappeared. He drinks and smokes too much and his diet isn’t exemplary. He thinks outside the box, and is often criticized or even punished for going against the rules. But he gets results. And he does it all against […]