My July 2024 Reading

My two favorite books this month were Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn and Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane - one light-hearted and amusing and the other dark and compelling - both memorable.  

Mystery/Suspense

The Risk of Darkness by Susan Hill (2006). I really liked the first two Simon Serrallier books I read in June so read three more in July – compelling police procedurals set in a small cathedral town with a lot about Simon’s family as part of the plot, which adds to their appeal, in my opinion. All the Serralliers except Simon are doctors; he is a successful police detective but still bitter that his father is contemptuous of his career. In this book, Simon is frustrated that he has not been able to find a serial killer abducting children, unsolved since book 2. A flawed and solitary character, Simon is always yearning for what he doesn’t have.

The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill (2008). In this fourth book in the series, Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Serrailler is investigating a case in which random young women are being killed (Lafferton is a dangerous place to live; an endless supply of serial killers). His only form of relaxation is spending time with his sister and her children. She loves Simon but is annoyed with him for being rude to their father’s new girlfriend (who seems quite nice and is a saint to put up with Dr. Serrailler).

The Shadows in the Street by Susan Hill (2010). Simon is relaxing on a remote Scottish island after a difficult case when he is called back to Lafferton by his Chief Constable for an urgent case. Two local prostitutes have been found strangled and the citizens of Lafferton are on edge, although self-righteously sure it can’t happen to them. Abi, a conscientious mother and reluctant prostitute, keeps saying she’ll give up the life once she has a bit of money for emergencies – so the reader just knows she will be the next victim! I am enjoying the vividly drawn characters but decided to take a break in the series for August.

Murder at Government House by Elspeth Huxley (1937).*  When the governor of an African colony is found murdered at his desk, the police detective, Superintendent Vachell, is assisted in the investigation by a visiting anthropologist.  This is a book I'd held onto for quite a while but it was disappointing.  I liked it better when I went back to the beginning and skimmed it but that shouldn't be necessary to enjoy a mystery.  My review.

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari (2023).* Saffron Everleigh turned her back on society to work as a research assistant in botany at University College London in the 1920s. When a department dinner party ends in murder and her boss is arrested, Saffron is determined to prove his innocence. The reviews of this book were very positive but I found it somewhat tedious and was irritated by the anachronisms. My review.

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena (2017)(audio). Karen and Tom Krupp are a happily married couple until the night Tom comes home from work to find Karen is missing and everything changes. The police arrive to tell him she is in the hospital after totaling her car and soon they link Karen to a nearby murder. Karen says she can’t remember what she was doing or why she was in the bad part of town but Tom isn’t sure he believes her and begins to wonder how well he knows his wife.

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (2023).* An all too real look at one particular family in South Boston during the 70s busing crisis and the pernicious influence of a mob boss. This book captures hot summer days and nights in Boston and was hard to put down, with memorable characters. I think it is Lehane’s best novel. My review.

Mind Games by Nora Roberts (2024)(audio). At 12, Thea’s psychic gift (or curse) caused her to witness her parents’ murder, although she was hundreds of miles away, which made it possible for the police to capture and imprison the killer. Unfortunately, a mental link between the two remains and causes her a lot of anguish over the years. When Thea finally falls in love, her fear of discussing this unusual gift causes a rift that threatens to ruin her happiness.

Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie (1948). After Gordon Cloade dies in the Blitz, his family finds out he did not make a new will after his recent marriage and his wealth automatically goes to his new young wife, Rosaleen. The family is thrilled by a rumor that perhaps Rosaleen’s first husband isn’t really dead – bigamy would revert the inheritance back to them. Then people start dying and it is up to Hercule Poirot to untangle all the deceit. My review.

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn (2023).  When Mrs. Plansky is scammed of her life's savings, she is humiliated and desperate.  The police can't help.  Her lawyer can't help.  She can't concentrate on anything so she buys a plane ticket to Romania, determined to find the perps and get her money back.  My review.

Historical Fiction

The Secret Stealers by Jane Healey (2021).* Major General Bill Donovan recruited war widow Anna to work at his newly created Office of Strategic Services in DC but soon all she wants is to go undercover in France and her French is so good she gets her way. I especially enjoyed the description of OSS and of Anna’s training in London; there are so many books about occupied France but this had a different perspective, although I had some concerns. My review.

The Song of Hartgrove Hall by Natasha Solomons (2015).* World War II is over but the three Fox-Talbot brothers have a new challenge: their father wants to sell their beloved home, Hartgrove Hall. Adding to the complication, all three brothers love beautiful singer Edie Rose. In the present (more or less), Harry, the youngest brother, has discovered his grandson is a musical prodigy, which helps him overcome the grief that has paralyzed him for months. My review.

Contemporary Romance

Funny Story by Emily Henry (2024). Daphne moved to Michigan for her fiancé, which was fine until he dumps her for his best friend Petra right before the wedding and politely asks her to move out. With nowhere to go, she moves in with the one person as miserable as she – Petra’s ex, Miles. There is a HEA but it takes a while. I always have big expectations of Henry’s novels and wind up mildly disappointed. For those who share those reactions, I recommend Katherine Center instead.

One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery (2024). Julie is planning a quiet Christmas with her new boyfriend until her adult children invite themselves, forcing her to reveal she is dating someone significantly younger. Soon she is hosting her boyfriend’s children, her daughter-in-law’s mother and uncle, her daughter’s ex, and various others, which turns out to be a warm and oh-so-fuzzy holiday despite bumps in the road, including a few broken bones.

Fiction

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022). This Pulitzer-prize winning novel, set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, follows the misadventures of a resilient orphan. It reflects the misery of an entire region and while I could admire the novel as a whole I found it very depressing. Our book group discussion was not very animated, although most had enjoyed it.

Children’s Fiction

A Dixie School Girl by Gabrielle E. Jackson (1913). Tutored at home until they were fifteen, Beverly Ashby and her twin brother go to boarding schools just a few miles apart in Virginia. Beverly is homesick and rebels against the rules, which is not appreciated by the Headmistress. This book was marred by unbelievable racism.

The Last Apple Tree by Claudia Mills (2024).* Moving to a new state, a new school, and into a house with family she barely knows is challenging for twelve-year-old Sonnet, especially when she begins to worry about Gramps’ memory issues, in this absorbing story by veteran author and Betsy-Tacy fan Mills. My review.

Pony by R.J. Palacio (2021). When his father is taken away by gangsters, twelve-year-old Silas sets out to rescue him, accompanied by the ghost who has been his only friend since childhood and a mysterious pony. I read this historical novel for the Greater New York Betsy-Tacy group which alternates books by Maud Hart Lovelace and other authors. It was good yet very different from her bestseller, Wonder, a book that made me cry.

* indicates 20 Books of Summer