An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd

This is the second book in the Bess Crawford series.I'm liking these books quite a lot. If you're a mystery book lover, I think you'll enjoy these.

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

I recently discovered another mystery series. This one is by Charles Todd, and is the Bess Crawford series.

The first book in the series is A Duty to the Dead. It takes place during World War I, and Bess is a nurse for the British army.

Some other mystery writer that I enjoy recommended this series. I can't remember who it was. But I thought the book was a winner, and I will read more in this series.

O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King

This is the fifth book in the Mary Russell - Sherlock Holmes mystery series.

I liked it, and have the next one on my nightstand ready to read after my next book.

Grace Takes Off by Julie Hyzy

Another Julie Hyzy book. This is the latest in her Manor House Mystery series. I used to like the White House Chef series a little better, but now I like this one just as well, or perhaps even a little better. Perhaps.

If you like light mysteries, these are for you.

Home of the Braised by Julie Hyzy

This book is the latest in Julie Hyzy's White House Chef mysteries. It's very fun, and I liked it as well as the others.

The Moor by Laurie King

This is the fourth book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. I requested this one and got it right away--unlike the last one, which I waited two months to get.

I liked this book, although not quite as well as the others. It took me longer to engage in the story (perhaps more telling of me than the book). And I felt there was a section in the middle that dragged. But after that, everything kicked in and I finished it quickly, and enjoyed the last half.

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

This is number six in the Flavia de Luce novels by Alan Bradley. I think it's my favorite so far.

King and Maxwell by David Baldacci

This the most current book in the series. As yet there are no more. I've enjoyed the series, and I hope Baldacci sees his way clear to write some more of them.

A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King

This is the third book in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. I'm really liking the series, and it's holding my attention. The fourth book is waiting for me at the library.

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

This book is the second in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. I liked it as well or better than the first book.

I've requested the next book from the library already. I really like this series.

W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton

The latest in Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series. Like I said about the last one: these later books are much more like her early books. There were a few from around O to S (not sure exactly which ones) that lost their pizzazz.

I liked it. I'm looking forward to the next one. Only a few left!

Grace Among Thieves by Julie Hyzy

This is the third book in the Manor House Mystery series. I liked it as well as I liked the others. I hope Julie Hyzy keeps writing for a long time.

Peril in Paperback by Kate Carlisle

I haven't read the books in this series one right after another. There is usually quite a gap in time between books, yet I find it easy to remember characters and the background story. That makes it nice.

This is another series of what I term cozy mysteries--fun and not too scary. Plus any character who loves books is a character I'm sure to enjoy.

Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear

I just discovered there are four books that I read in April that I never posted about on my blog. I had them on my master list at the bottom of the blog, but hadn't written about them yet. So here we go.

Leaving Everything Most Loved is the latest in the Maisie Dobbs series, and it is one of my favorites of the series. I'm already anxious for the next one to come out. It will be a while, because this one is brand new.

Madame Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart

Some people do retail therapy. I do re-read therapy. I wanted a little mental break from things, so I picked up an old favorite. I've read Madame Will You Talk? many times, and enjoyed it every time. This was no exception.

I love Mary Stewart mysteries. They were among the first "grown up" mysteries I read, and I read every one of them several times. I collected all her books in paperback, and one time while on a declutter spree I decided to get rid of them, thinking I could always get them at the library. Wrong. Our library took them out of circulation. Then I tried to buy them again, and they were out of print. Yikes! I panicked for a few years and picked up some used copies as I could find them. Finally they came back in print and you can bet I bought them all again. Lesson learned: keep the books you love.

Stewart started writing in the 50's, and her books reflect the times. Lots of cigarette smoking, women wearing dresses all the time. It's kind of fun to have a reminder of what things were like. I'm sure they were very current when written. What will people say about our current books in 60 years?

Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley

I can't believe I forgot to include this book earlier! I actually read it before I left on vacation (before Mariana). Perhaps that's why it escaped my memory.

I've enjoyed the Flavia de Luce novels, and this is one of the better ones. If you haven't read the series, begin with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. They're well worth the read.

Cat's Claw by Susan Wittig Albert

I think this might be book 20 of the Pecan Springs/China Bayles mystery series. So many times a series can become tired. I think there have been a few of these that I haven't liked as well as the others, but for the majority of this series, I've been very happy with her books. In this case Susan Wittig Albert was right on her game.

I really liked it. I picked it up, and barely put it down to eat or sleep. I guess it was just what I needed!

Grace Interrupted by Julie Hyzy

This is the second in the Manor House Mystery series. I'm liking this mystery series, and in fact have the third book sitting on my nightstand, ready to get to when I've finished a couple of other books.

There's something comfortable about a nice series. It's like visiting family, knowing a lot of the characters already. It's not the same as a great piece of literature, or a fun or intriguing new novel, but there is certainly a place in my life for the predictable. Especially when so much of my surroundings are unpredictable. Sometimes that's just what I need.

I've really been getting a lot of reading in, and I'm loving it. Something always gives when that's the case, and I think it's my housekeeping. And perhaps some quilting. Oh well. It's all worth it!

Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy

When I go on vacation I take my Kindle in order to avoid overweight baggage fees from all the books I need/want to take along. I can't imagine anything worse than being stranded in an airport, on an airplane, or anywhere else without a book to pick up and read. (Side note: that's the only reason I got as far as page 203 in Atlas Shrugged--I was on a plane and had absolutely nothing else to read.)

I also take a paperback or two with me. What if, heaven forbid, something happened to my Kindle? Also I don't like to take my Kindle to the beach or other public water places. I have a couple shelves of used books that I consider disposable. Mostly mysteries, with a few novels thrown in there for good measure. When I finish them on vacation, I leave them there.

Grace Under Pressure was one of the paperbacks I took on this trip.  This is the first book in a new mystery series by Julie Hyzy (author of the White House Chef Mysteries, which I enjoy). I felt this book was as good as her others. It even held up to being read intermittently--only when I was on the deck of the cruise ship or on the beach. That's pretty good for me. I'm pretty much a one book at a time reader. (Maybe that's why I don't do more audio books.)