My August 2024 Reading

No 5s this month: I liked The Briar Club but not as much as Kate Quinn's other books. I enjoyed Long Island and will suggest my book group reads it but his style is very understated and I wasn’t sure I understood the ending. The Rom-Commers was fun and I’ve decided I like Center’s books much better than Emily Henry’s: although their styles are not dissimilar, I think Center demonstrates more sense of humor.

Historical Fiction

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (2024). Set in a 1950s boarding house in DC, this started dramatically with a murder, then flashed back to Grace March’s arrival and her ability to bring the women residents together – although she never says a word about her own past or current situation. This was slower-paced than Quinn’s other books (my sister texted me last night to ask if she should go on reading) but I found it appealing. I especially enjoyed a cameo by Margaret Chase Smith and vaguely remembered researching her for elementary school long ago.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022). I know everyone except me loved this — I found it endless and depressing. For those who have not read it, it’s about a poor, neglected orphan born in a trailer in one of the most poverty-stricken areas of Appalachia. Every time you think his life might get better, it gets even worse! I pity these people but many of them vote against policies that are or would help them, which is infuriating (if that isn’t deplorable, what is?).

Long Island by Colm Tóibín (2004) * Fans of his novel Brooklyn might have thought Eilis would live happily ever after when she returned to New York and her marriage to the Italian-American plumber. Alas, no! This book picks up 20 years later and takes Eilis back home Ireland and what might have been. My review.

Mystery/Suspense

Gunpowder Plot by Carola Dunn (2006)*. In this historical mystery, Daisy Dalrymple, now married and in an interesting condition as the saying goes, is visiting a school friend to write up the local Guy Fawkes celebration. When her host is killed, Daisy’s husband, a Scotland Yard detective, is summoned to investigate.  My review.

The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves (2023), Narrated by Jack Holden (audio). In this third mystery featuring tortured but appealing detective Matthew Venn, he has to investigate the murder of a well-known sailor in Greystoke, Devon. Venn knew the town as a child, and it still has a substantial Brethren community (the cult-like religion he was brought up in but has rejected), some of whom were involved with the victim.

Vanishing Edge by Claire Kells (2021). Felicity Harland, a former FBI agent who left the service in the wake of a personal tragedy, is brought in as chief investigator when a camper disappears from Sequoia National Park. I never got into Nevada Barr’s books even when I was working for her publisher but this was intriguing and I think I will read more in the series.

Dog on It by Spencer Quinn (2008), Narrated by Jim Frangione (audio). This is a rollicking series launch featuring Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator, sidekick to Bernie, who is not the brightest private investigator. I wished Chet could figure out how to communicate like the dog in The Watchers by Dean Koontz, given he knew where the missing girl was and who had taken her. It was cute but probably one was enough.  I hope he writes more standalones like Mrs. Plansky's Revenge.

Corrupt Practices by Robert Rotstein (2013)*.  When Rich Baxter is accused of embezzling from his client, a cult-like church (oooh, second in one month), he reaches out to former colleague and star trial attorney Parker Stern to come to his defense. Parker despises the cult but he winds up taking the case although he hasn’t entered a courtroom since developing severe stage fright. I had held onto this book for years but it was disappointing. My review.

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline (2024) (audio). TJ Devlin is a disappointment in a family of lawyers. After a stint in prison and rehab for alcoholism, TJ can’t get hired anywhere except at the firm, in a make-work job with the title of investigator. However, when his perfect brother John (the most annoying character of the month – should this be a regular thing?) wonders if he has murdered someone, it is TJ who tries to find out what is going on.

Nonfiction

The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells by Rebecca Rego Barry (2024)*. Wells started out as a librarian in Rahway, NJ, and became a bestselling author in the early 20th century, known for two children’s series, the Patty Fairfield books and the Marjorie books, as well as for adult mysteries featuring detective Fleming Stone. My review.

Romance

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center (2024). Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. So when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates it’s a break too big to pass up. But when she get there, she learns he didn’t know anything about this plan and flat out rejects her involvement. This was extremely fun, if predictable, and makes up for Center’s disappointing previous book about face recognition (or lack thereof).

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (2024). Lucy has always loved visiting Prince Edward Island to stay with her best friend Bridget’s family but no one knows about her on-again off-again relationship with Bridget’s brother Felix. As Bridget’s wedding approaches and she acts like a drama queen, Lucy and Felix are thrown together and if she wants their relationship to last they will need to go public. The publishing industry really seems to be behind Fortune’s success but this was a very ordinary and repetitious romance.

Spring Dream by Rosamund Hunt (1963). When Carolyn’s aunt is hospitalized, she rushes upstate to help, dragging her reluctant mother along. When Aunt Blanche begs Carolyn to manage her hat store while she is out of commission, Carolyn gamely takes it on and learns a lot about small business, depressed mill communities, and whom one can count on in a crisis. It was predictable but I loved all the hats! My review.

Retreat to the Spanish Sun by Jo Thomas (2022). Eliza takes a temporary job house-sitting in Spain to avoid her adult children and write the last paper for her degree but once there, she makes friends and parties with the locals instead of studying. When the owner returns unexpectedly, she is having too much fun to go home. I got really irritated by Eliza’s procrastination and it wasn’t even a real research paper! I’d have flunked her!

Children’s and YA

Tik-Tok of Oz (1914) and Rinkitink in Oz (1916) by L. Frank Baum. Ozathon24 continues with two rereads.  Tik-Tok is mostly about the Shaggy Man and Betsy Bobbin, an intrepid American girl like Dorothy, and their adventures outside Oz and run-in with the Nomes. I preferred Rinkitink in Oz, which features brave Prince Inga, trying to save his country after it is conquered with three magic pearls. My review.

Two’s Company by Betty Cavanna (1951). Claire Farrell follows a handsome actor to Williamsburg on the pretext of visiting her grandparents while he plays summer stock. Fortunately, the charm of southern life and a different, better young man bring her to her senses. My review.

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Update on my 20 Books of Summer: I read 47 books over the three summer months (a few long weekends made all the difference) but just 17 from my 20 Books of Summer (marked with asterisk above). I am determined to finish my list, although I am a bit stuck on book 18.