RIP IX Wrap-up

Moan! Howl! Sob! It's the end of the Readers.Imbibing.Peril season. It seemed to go by so quickly this year and I still have tons of books that I wish I had gotten to. And yet ...

Here is what I was able to read through September and October, with blurbs for the books I haven't reviewed yet and stars next to my super favorite books --

Twelve Minutes to Midnight - Christopher Edge
A Lesson in Secrets - Jacqueline Winspear
Shadows of the Silver Screen - Christopher Edge
*Constable & Toop - Gareth P. Jones
Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line - Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
Shada - Douglas Adams and Gareth Roberts
*Murder on the Home Front - Molly Lefebure
*The Supernatural Elements - Edgar Cantero

A Blunt Instrument - Georgette Heyer
I didn't review this one because, well, it's pretty much like all of her other mysteries. There's an element of vice, a bunch of loathsome characters, and an unexpected romance. It did have a nice twist as to who the murderer was though. Still, there are better choices if you want to read a Heyer mystery.

The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains - Neil Gaiman

Poppet and Widget, found on fanpop (artist unknown)

*The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
I ended up doing my reread of this one as an audiobook (Jim Dale). I loved the story just as much (if not more) as I did last year. I absolutely can't wait for the movie ... and my next reread!

The Devil's Gentleman: Privilege, Poison, and the Trial That Ushered in the Twentieth Century - Harold Schechter
This is an account of the trial of Roland Molineau for the poisoning death of Mrs. Katherine Adams, landlady to Harry Cornish, recipient of an anonymous package containing a vial of Bromo Seltzer that turned out to be poison. It builds a strong case against Molineau for both this case and that of Henry Barnet, another victim of an anonymously sent poison. Because the outcome of the real-life case was not very satisfactory, this was something of an exercise in educated speculation.

*The Gates - John Connolly
*The Infernals - John Connolly
*The Creeps - John Connolly
The first two books were rereads and The Creeps is the final book in the Samuel Johnson series. I wanted to read the whole series at once and it sure was fun! These books are so well written and enjoyable. Even the side characters are interesting. The stories are a mix of fantasy and science fiction, with some real science (and lots of footnotes) thrown in for fun. And Samuel and his dachshund Boswell are so lovable that I wish there were going to be dozens more books.

The Graveyard Book, Volume One - Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book, Volume Two - Neil Gaiman
This House is Haunted - John Boyne
The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket (today on The Estella Society)
*Jackaby - William Ritter

Soul Music - Terry Pratchett
I'm about halfway through this one, the third Death novel (and my eighth read) in the Discworld universe. I'm really enjoying it (yay, Susan!) and I'll try and finish it today.

A Night in the Lonesome October - Roger Zelazny

And I'm definitely finishing this one today as it's October 31st and that's the last chapter (they are numbered, one for each day of the month). I've been faithfully reading a chapter a day and it has been quite an adventure. It wasn't until October 26th when things were really explained but I had guessed most of what was going on already. This is definitely a book for fans of classic horror and detective stories (Lovecraft, Shelley, Stoker, Doyle and more). I have a suspicion that I'll read it again next year now that I understand more of what is going on! (Thank you to Chicago Review Press for sending me a review copy to celebrate their new printing of the book.)

So, let's see how I did ... RIP Books Read: 22. Holy cow. My absolute favorites were Constable & Toop, The Supernatural Enhancements and Jackaby. I was very happy to get two non-fiction reads in as well. And, best of all, there wasn't a single dud in the whole batch so it was a great season of perilous reads! Now I'll be sad to leave RIP season behind me but I'll also be happy to pick up some of the other types of books I have queued up for the rest of fall and winter.

How was your RIP reading season? What was your favorite book?

Finally, DWJ fans, don't miss the beginning of Witch Week today! My post on The Power of Three will be up tomorrow. I've got a post scheduled with the link.

Until we meet again (on a dark and stormy night),
K

RIP IX: New Release: Jackaby

I knew had to get my hands on Jackaby by William Ritter as soon as I heard about it. And my enthusiasm was not misplaced because this turned out to be one of my favorite books of the season!

Abigail Rook is a twenty-one year old Englishwoman who can't stand the idea of the quiet life she is expected to lead -- so she absconds with her college tuition and goes to Eastern Europe to "hunt dinosaurs". After an unsatisfying stint there, she travels to America to keep searching for something she's not sure exists for a late-Victorian woman. However, very soon after she arrives in New Fiddleham, she ends up working for R.F. Jackaby, scientist and paranormal investigator. Though she's not a believer, she needs a job and she doesn't half mind all of the old biddies around town that try to warn her off Jackaby. And really, what is most unbelievable to Abigail is that she just might have found her place in the world.

I loved, loved, loved this book. It has some of everything and it is all brought together in an interesting and fun way. Jackaby is smart and amusing and Abigail is brave and also intelligent. But what I loved most is that they still needed each other. Their world views are very different but they are definitely complementary. I'm so excited to see that there is a sequel to Jackaby already in the works. There is a lot of "creature" territory available to explore as well as room for these characters to grow.

Unearthing a treasure,
K

RIP IX: This House is Haunted

I only have a couple of days left of RIP season and quite a few reviews to catch up on so this week's posts will be short and sweet (well, as sweet as murder and mayhem can get)!

As someone who has read many Victorian ghost stories (good and bad), I found This House is Haunted by John Boyne to also be a strong classic ghost story, despite being published only last year. A young woman, Eliza Caine, caught up in the grief of a sudden loss, seeks to change her situation by leaving everything she knows, heading to Norfolk, and becoming governess to some children. From the start, things are not as they seem and eventually Eliza sets out to find out the true history of the house and the family. What she finds is not pleasant but her own good nature and family ties help her in the end.

I wouldn't say that I loved this book because there was nothing that was exceptional about it ... but, it was still a pleasure to read. It was a good, solid ghost story. This book reminded me of the books of John Harwood, without the more sordid parts. I have no complaints other than the fact that Eliza seemed pretty slow to catch onto things at first. Thankfully, she stepped up her game by the end and even became a bit crafty. Good job, Eliza!

Hoping this post is not haunted,
K

RIP IX: The Truth Is in the Graveyard

Neil Gaiman kindly obliged me this RIP season by having some nice new books out to enjoy.

First, there was The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains. This is an illustrated version of a short story that was published in the collection Stories a couple of years ago. I liked but didn't love the story when I read it before but, whether it was because this was a second read or because of the illustrations, I liked it more this time through. Some things that passed me by the first time were made clearer. The illustrations by Eddie Campbell were, in some cases, just as telling as the words themselves. In fact, the subtitle of the book is "A Tale of Travel and Darkness with Pictures of All Kinds". The illustrations aren't black and white but they are realistic and, when necessary, dark. I'm glad that I picked this one up and gave the story another chance.

And, as soon as I saw that there were going to be graphic novel versions of The Graveyard Book, I got very, very excited. I bought the first one for read-a-thon and then Chris said he already had the second volume too so I bought that as well. I read both of them in the middle of the day and, honestly, rushed through them too quickly to really appreciate them. Still, I thought they were fantastic. Each chapter is done by a different illustrator and they each bring something different to the story. I liked some of the styles more than others but didn't hate any of them. The thing I was least ready for was the fact that by turning this story into a graphic one, it is no longer a children's story. In my opinion, these were made for adults, bringing the story to another audience. I can't wait to reread them and to pay more attention to the details.

The final new Gaiman of the month isn't being released until October 28 so I might not actually get to it until the beginning of November. It's a graphic retelling of Hansel and Gretel, illustrated by Lorenzo Mattotti and put out by Toon Books. I'm curious to see what they do with this well-known tale.

Gaga for Gaiman,
K

Read-a-Thon in T-Minus-Six

Yes, Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon starts in six hours and, as always, I won't be awake for the start. I just can't do 5 a.m. (Seattle represent!). It's not a time that works with my body clock. But, as soon as I get up, I will be reading and snacking and rogue cheering (#teamrogue forever) until the wee hours of the morning.

My stack is pleasantly monochromatic --

The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel, Volume One (and I picked up Volume Two shortly after I took this picture)

The Creeps

This House is Haunted

Unnatural Creatures (short stories not by Neil Gaiman)

Brat Farrar (reread because Anastasia got me in the mood)

The Bad Beginning (reread for the Top 100 Chapter Book Project)

Lords and Ladies (a Discworld Witches book)

My plan is to finish my current read--The Infernals (second in the Samuel Johnson series)--first thing in the morning and then move on to The Creeps (book three). Then I will probably go through the two volumes of The Graveyard Book graphic novel. I started the first one the other day and it is incredibly dark. It hardly seems like a children's book in this format! Then I'll choose from the other books based on my mood in the evening and what I think will keep me awake the longest. I also have the audiobook of The Glass Sentence on my phone for when I'm baking, driving, or when my eyes need a break.

I'll be sticking with my usual read-a-thon breakfast of scones and tea. This time I am trying glazed cinnamon raisin. Then I have some yummy Trader Joe's snacks for during the day, taquitos for lunch, and probably pizza for dinner. I also have some popcorn and fruit that didn't make it into the picture.

As always, I'll be putting my updates up on Twitter and my pictures on Instagram. I've also decided this time to not focus on the details but just to have fun -- so I won't be counting pages or hours. I'll just be reading and having fun!

What are you looking forward to reading (or eating) today?

Excited as always,

K

RIP IX: Secrets and Murder

One of the first books I read in September for RIP IX was A Lesson in Secrets, the eighth book in Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series. As part of an assignment from the government, Maisie pairs her detecting skills with her teaching skills and joins the faculty of a college in Oxford that was founded after the First World War on the principles of pacifism and international cooperation. But, if the Secret Service's hunch is correct, the university might just be harboring the worst of the worst -- Nazis!

This series never shies away from tackling some of the most sensitive topics that came out of the Great War. This time it's the fates of those soldiers who decided at some point that they no longer wanted to fight. It's a heartbreaking subject but it's dealt with in a really thoughtful way in this story. I really do love this series and have the greatest admiration for Maisie Dobbs. I'm bummed to only have two more books before I'm caught up to the current book.

I picked up Murder on the Home Front by Molly Lefebure after hearing that it was made into a TV series and wanting to read it before watching the show. I didn't realize that it was a memoir and I certainly didn't know how awesome Lefebure was. The book chronicles some of her adventures in the five years that she spent working as the secretary to pathologist Dr. Keith Simpson in London and the surrounding counties. She highlights exceptional cases in a way that draws the reader in, whether it's describing an abnormal autopsy, a search for clues in a muddy field, or a trek down a darkened stairwell during the Blitz. Here is the list of qualities that she came up with when looking for her replacement:

'Typing.
Good verbatim shorthand.
Tact.
Interested in crime.
No objection to mortuaries and corpses.
Reasonably fast runner.'

I loved Molly and I loved this book. It turns out the the TV series is fictional and just based off of these memoirs (the lead character is called Molly Cooper, I believe) but I'm still looking forward to watching it soon. If it has half the wit of this book (something one certainly doesn't expect when reading about murders), it will be a fun show!

Crossing back over the Pond,
K

RIP IX: New Release: The Supernatural Enhancements

The second I saw Edgar Cantero's The Supernatural Enhancements, I knew I had to read it. I managed to avoid all mention of what it was about (because who needs any more impetus than that cover, right?!) and only took in the praises of various readers that I respect. I put in my hold at the library and thankfully it came in quite quickly (I can only assume because everyone who picks it up speeds through it without being able to put it down).

I'm going to be a bit secretive about the plot because, as I was tweeting with Becca about it (she was reading it at the same time), I realized "I like the way it reveals things slowly, after you've already assumed something else". I think this is definitely part of the genius of Cantero's writing. The story is told through letters, journal entries, and audio and video recordings. It incorporates literature, puzzles and cyphers, and nameless things that are only to be found in dreams and nightmares. The two main characters, A. and Niamh, are young and slightly mysterious and likable. And Axton House with its supernatural enhancements is a place of history and mystery.

As soon as I finished the book, I went to my reading spreadsheet where I usually record a couple of brief thoughts. All I could come up with was "holy crap". I tweeted this thought and the author himself found my tweet. He asked if it was the sort of crap he should retweet or not. I chuckled and said that it was absolutely the kind to retweet because I loved the book and the end was simply mind-blowing. I didn't see it coming at all. I would love a sequel that just expands the Epilogue.

I've already got Chris reading this book (and the last time I talked to him about it he was loving it). Have I convinced you to pick it up?

Cherishing my quiet dreams,
K

RIPIX: Veronica Mars and Doctor Who

I hate to admit it but, a few short months ago, I had never watched any Veronica Mars. When the movie came out, all of the marshmallows were going crazy and I felt like I was really missing out. Luckily, Amazon Prime had the series and the hubby and I binge watched it over the spring and early summer, finishing up with the movie. Then we went through withdrawals. So, when I was looking for books to take on a trip a couple of weeks ago (Western PA for a wedding), I had to pick up the first VM novel, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the book picked up very shortly after the movie story ended. This is a typical Veronica Mars mystery where she gets into trouble, gets some help from Mac and Wallace, gets into even deeper trouble and then solves a seemingly impossible mystery, all while battling a Sheriff Lamb (does it matter which one? they're both asses.) and missing the still-Naval Logan.

This book got me through almost eight hours on two planes and a couple of hours of layover in the middle. It read just like another movie and I was totally absorbed. I could easily picture everything that was going on and hear the voices of Keith, Veronica, Mac and Wallace. It had the darkness and adult situations of the film, with lots of sex, drugs and imminent danger. If you're a fan, you should definitely grab this book.

Then, I needed a second airplane book. I was at the library and happened to see Shada, a novelization of a Doctor Who episode that Douglas Adams had mostly written but then abandoned revisions on when it was not filmed (due to a strike). I grabbed it to follow the theme of television tie-in reading on this trip. This story got me back home and reminded me just how much I love Douglas Adams' writing. Gareth Roberts did an amazing job of putting this together and keeping Douglas' voice intact. Though I didn't watch pre-Eccleston Doctor Who, I know enough about it to have had no problem picturing the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana and K-9 in this late-70s adventure in Oxford and beyond. The story in this one is pretty complex, with two Time Lords, two TARDISes and an unexplainably evil villain. I honestly couldn't tell who was going to live and who was going to die. Also, for anyone who is a Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency fan, this book was definitely formed in the same part of Adams' mind and you can see shades of that future story in this one. (Shada was written in 1980 and Dirk Gently in 1987.)

These weren't my typical type of RIP season reads but it was nice to take a break from mentally-ill and homicidal Victorians! These also might have been the first two television-related novels that I've ever read. I can't think of any others off-hand. It was fun to explore these familiar worlds in a different medium and I'm looking forward to the next VM book that is coming out soon.

Which TV show novels are your favorites?

Back from Mars in the TARDIS,

K