In keeping with my current run of reading historical fiction, The Lost Queen is an engaging read. It’s slow, and it ultimately builds to an abrupt end that fails to satisfy. Languoreth is a fortunate girl born into interesting times. She is a twin, born under good omens to a witch of the Old Ways (the book calls them Wisdom Keepers, you may know them as Druids) and a fair and wise petty king. (Caveat: “fair and wise” according to what that would have meant […]
Desperate Times
I listen to a lot of cozy mystery audiobooks in a year and I usually don’t review them. But I’m starting to worry I won’t hit my cannonball if I don’t start reviewing some more of the books I read, and so here we are. Earlier this year I finished the Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton (well, at least what was written to that point), and needed a new series of cozy mysteries to listen to while driving. I’ve found that cozy mystery audiobooks […]
Stop getting the British peerage wrong! If you can research the American Civil War, you can easily discover the difference between Royal and non-royal dukes
1.5 stars #CBR10Bingo: Cover Art Spoiler warning! This review will discuss plot points from the book in detail, because it is impossible for me to list the many ways in which this book did not work for me without mentioning them. If you are unfamiliar with Scotland, Edinburgh and couldn’t care less about the British peerage, then maybe these things will not bother you. Nevertheless, be warned that you may get spoilers if you continue with my review after the link to my blog. New York […]
The facts are in evidence, but the truth is never told
His Bloody Project, nominated for the Man Booker Prize in 2016, is one of those great books that makes you wonder if it’s a true story, a fictionalised account, or just completely made up by the author. After reading the first bit, I actually went to read some reviews (which I never do in advance) to find out for sure. Graeme Mcrae Burnet’s main character—who’s “project” is the subject of the book—is Roderick John Mcrae, or Roddy as he’s called, so it seems entirely plausible that the […]