Three More Books

Due to lack of room in my baggage, I was very restrained in my purchase of books in Indianapolis but I managed to bring home three goodies . . .

A Duty to the Dead is the first of a new series by the talented mother-son teams writing as Charles Todd. It's set in England of 1916 (not 1016 as I originally typed!) and Bess Crawford, the protagonist, is aan engaging young woman serving as a volunteer nurse in France and later on a hospital ship.

I always enjoy visiting this time period and the Todds' writing is both rich and compelling.

Click on the book cover to visit their website and to learn more about this and their other books.

I've mentioned more than once how much I like Laurie King's books. This ninth entry in the Mary Russell series continues the high standard of writing I always know I'll find in King's work.

It could be read as a standalone but I recommend beginning at the beginning so as not to miss any of the fun in this clever, complex, layered, intelligent story of young Mary Russell and her mentor/partner/husband, the much older Sherlock Holmes.

This book is set in England (and Scotland) in 1924 -- earlier entries range from Palestine to San Francisco to India and beyond.

Click on the book cover to visit Laurie's website (one of the best I've seen.)

And here is a long postponed pleasure. I met Beverle a few years back and was intrigued by the setting and subject of her series. She writes about Titi Amato, an 18th century castrati singer in Venice.

Tito is a likeable protagonist who inhabits a fascinating world. I can see that I'm going to have to read the rest of the series.

Again, click on the book cover to learn more.

Bouchercon 2009~ Friday

Escalators and
Elevators -- effortless.
Why am I so tired?

Too many heroes?
Too many panels to see?
Info overload!

And then the book room . . .
Could I please have one of each . . .
Mysteries old and new?

Two full days of Bouchercon and I'm reeling. I've been able to see and listen to writers that are among my heroes -- that's Laurie R. King in the shot of the Sherlock Holmes/Conan Doyle panel above. I've discovered far too many writers that I want to read and best of all I've met quite a few readers who say they've fallen in love with my books.

I've shared a cab with Charles Todd (both of them) to the Random House cocktail gathering where I caught up with Deborah Crombie (whom I raved about before this) and got to chat with Naomi Hirahara, a charming diminutive person who writes the Mas Arai series. And, of course, Herself (my editor) was there -- we'll be having lunch tomorrow. There were so many others, around whom I tend to go all speechless -- the afore-mentioned Laurie King, S, J. Rozan, and Lee Child, to pick three.

It's all fun -- but a little overwhelming for one who's used to the quiet life. (Sorry the pictures aren't better -- I didn't bring the Nikon and I think the little Lumix is feeling hurt that I have a new love in the camera line.)