The Crystal Clear Detective Agency is a little lacking in clients of late. Almost as bad as Luke is lacking in good story opportunities. His boss has The Crystal Clear Detective Agency is a little lacking in clients of late. Almost as bad as Luke is lacking in good story opportunities. His boss has him writing pet bios! A rash of burglaries around Crystal Falls gets Luke, Kenny, and Luke's mom hopeful that maybe the police will bring them in, but they find out the new baker in town is also a private detective and they hired her instead! Thankfully, the chief is desperate enough to get this crime spree solved he'll allow a second private detective agency in to help too. Now it feels like a competition to see who can get a break in the case first.
Another fun time with Luke, Bandit, (and Kenny, Luke's mom, and Brooke too). I figured out who done it before Luke and Bandit, but it was still an entertaining mystery. Regnier shines with witty dialogue and quirky characters, though. The mystery is just the icing on the cake.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: Nothing beyond a kiss Violence: One person dies of a heart attack off page. Ethnic diversity: Most characters are white. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: There's some clash between a new wealthy family in the neighborhood and the locals. Some crazy driving/car chases....more
WWII has brought both heartache and newfound freedom for Aleida van der Zee Martens. She had to leave her home in the Netherlands, but a Nazi plane shWWII has brought both heartache and newfound freedom for Aleida van der Zee Martens. She had to leave her home in the Netherlands, but a Nazi plane shot her abusive husband during their escape and freed her from his clutches. Before he died, her husband gave their son to British strangers without her knowledge. Heartbroken, Aleida now works with the Ministry of Health in London encouraging mothers to let their children be evacuated and checking in on evacuees to see how the children are fairing. She is also keeping an eye out everywhere she goes for a little boy with no fingers on his right hand, her little boy Theo. Asthma has kept Hugh Collingwood out of the frontlines, but he isn't one to let that stop him. He's doing his part as a reporter with the BBC who does enthralling live reports on the wireless. He has the struggle of trying to keep the public informed of what is going on while not leaking any important information to the enemy in the process. His paths cross with Mrs Martens during his reporting as she volunteers with the ARP. Soon they are investigating some murders of people they both know. They are also trying to navigate the challenges of their own jobs, figuring out their relationship, and finding Aleida's missing son.
I really appreciate the way Sundin makes her characters feel very realistic. They aren't perfect, they have flaws and hardships, but that causes them to turn to the Lord for help (though not always right away). This is the first of her books that involves a murder mystery element. For the first half of the book that isn't the main point, but it becomes vital to figure out in the last half as the body count increases. The mystery parts were well done and kept me guessing. Hugh and Aleida are likable characters and good for each other. Sundin obviously did her research about WWII in London, she really made it come to life.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: Nothing beyond a couple kisses. Violence: There are a couple murders off page, people dying in the war both on and off page (descriptions of gore are kept to a minimum). And an attempted murder on page. Bombings in London are somewhat described (mostly property damage). Ethnic diversity: Aleida is Dutch, Hugh is British, one of Aleida's co-workers is Indian, some of the other reporters are from America or France. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: Some asthma attacks are vividly described. Aleida's husband is verbally abusive (and it is hinted physically too). He ignores their son because of his birth defect. ...more
Overworked young man Takumi and his cute little dog Leo find themselves suddenly transported to an entirely different world where Leo is suddenly hugeOverworked young man Takumi and his cute little dog Leo find themselves suddenly transported to an entirely different world where Leo is suddenly huge and apparently a revered and rare silver fenrir. When Leo dispatches an orc Takumi is convinced they are no longer in Japan, and even moreso when Leo saves a young woman from another orc in the woods. Lady Claire is eternally grateful, and doubly so when they also help her find the plants needed to treat her sister's illness. Just where is Takumi, and is magic really real here? The end of the book has a text-only story of how Takumi found and saved Leo as a puppy (and why he accidentally named her a boy's name).
This was cute and a lot of fun. Takumi disarms people without realizing it, is kind and eager to help. Leo is a delightful huge ball of fluff who seems to understand human speech in the magical world. They are like a knight and noble steed finding their way in a new world. And when Lady Claire realizes they really have no clue about her world, she's a very gracious host. Definitely will be looking into getting more of this series.
Notes on content: Language: 5 minor swears. Sexual content: None Violence: Leo attacks and kills an orc (which looks like a giant, bipedal pig) and it isn't really bloody. Some street rats threaten Lady Claire and Takumi but Leo quickly intimidates them without things coming to actual violence. Ethnic diversity: Takumi is Japanese, Claire and her household appear to be of European-like descent. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: Leo was abandoned as a puppy and Takumi rescued her in the nick of time or she would have died. ...more
Mops and her crew are on a mission to stop a war from spreading (or getting more complicated). But peace keeping missions on planets that have never hMops and her crew are on a mission to stop a war from spreading (or getting more complicated). But peace keeping missions on planets that have never had contact with the outside world are touchy things, and on top of that, Mops has learned that she's slowly going feral.
I don't know if it was because I was listening to this, or if the plot was extra zany, or if it was because I spread it out so long, but I could not get into this volume and I didn't find it anywhere near as funny as the first 2. (Also, Mops is out of commission for a while, and I missed her.) I ended up just finishing it to finish it, not because I cared about the characters or what was going on (I even had to rewind twice because I forgot what the point of certain side trips were in all the zaniness).
Notes on content: Language: I lost track of the f-bombs. Lots. Sexual content: There are some lewd comments, no sex scenes. Violence: There are a couple battles with some injuries and fatalities. Ethnic diversity: The humans come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, Indian, Greek, Hispanic, etc. based on names. Lots of variety in aliens too. LGBTQ+ content: Some of the aliens have interesting reproduction behaviors that aren't the typical Earth ones. Other: Mops is succumbing to a plague that renders her feral....more
Mischief Night has come to Shady Hollow. Vera and most of the rest of the Shady Hollow residents are enjoying the decorations the town has brought outMischief Night has come to Shady Hollow. Vera and most of the rest of the Shady Hollow residents are enjoying the decorations the town has brought out, the treats they gift each other, and the harmless pranks of the evening. But a dampener settles over the festivities when Orville and Vera discover the next day that a young squirrel, Hannah Brown, never came out of the woods after the kids' game of hide-n-seek the evening before.
This is lightly atmospheric but not harrowing, and in fact ends quite charmingly. I like how this little Shady Hollow story explores how local myths/legends can evolve from kernels of truth. The one in this story is the local spook, Creeping Juniper, who is the favorite local character parents weave into cautionary tales and creatures put in spooky campfire stories. This was a quick and delightful read. It is always nice to visit Shady Hollow again.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: Nothing worse than a sprained ankle. Ethnic diversity: All of the characters are animals and most seem to have European/American cultural notes (except the panda). LGBTQ+ content: None Other: A child is missing for over 24 hrs but (view spoiler)[she is perfectly fine other than a minor injury, and well cared for by a surprisingly kind character (hide spoiler)]....more
A fantasy adventure based on Scandinavian history.
I helped edit/give feed back on this one during its formative stages so it has been a few years and A fantasy adventure based on Scandinavian history.
I helped edit/give feed back on this one during its formative stages so it has been a few years and I know the book changed a bit since then so I won't say much about it. You just have to read it to find out for yourself. I did like the Medieval Scandinavian background as so few fantasies base their historical parts on that region and period. (Tolkien borrowed their mythology and language but not history so much.)
Notes on content: No language, nothing beyond a kiss, there were fight scenes but nothing overly graphic on page....more
Join Muco and Mr. Komatsu for another 4 seasons of adventures as Mr. Komatsu (and Muco) break in a new intern, Tamaki, at the glass blowing factory (wJoin Muco and Mr. Komatsu for another 4 seasons of adventures as Mr. Komatsu (and Muco) break in a new intern, Tamaki, at the glass blowing factory (who happens to be scared to death of dogs).
A delightful time spent with Muco, her silly antics, Mr. Komatsu and friends, and the new intern. This volume managed to make me laugh out loud when Muco unintentionally scares Tamaki off a roof (thankfully, there's lots of snow to catch him). We get to learn some more of Ushiko's background in this volume too. (Especially learning how he went from the skinny baseball player to the hefty guy he is now.) This series may be one of the funniest mangas currently being released.
Notes on content: Language: I think I remember 2 minor swears. Sexual content: None Violence: None Ethnic diversity: The people are Japanese (but from different regions of Japan) LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: An accidental fall without injury. Character struggling with fear of dogs....more
An astronaut who was selected to join an international team to explore a strange phenomenon, a possible wormhole to other universes, relates how he caAn astronaut who was selected to join an international team to explore a strange phenomenon, a possible wormhole to other universes, relates how he came to be wandering the halls of this strange place, what he's found there, and how it is slowly (or not so slowly) changing him.
I have never read anything by Tchaikovsky before, though I've always wondered what his stuff was like. So when I saw this novella was part of the Audible plus free offerings this month and looked somewhat interesting, I decided it was a great opportunity to try out his work. The astronaut is a bit of an unreliable narrator. This takes a common trope in scifi (view spoiler)[astronaut crew goes to space and someone goes crazy and starts killing them off (hide spoiler)] and spins it to make the narrator the one it's about. The setting for this is utterly unique, and I enjoyed that. I haven't read about a wormhole like this ever before (they have to walk through it to get to other places, and it is quite the trek). I appreciated the creativity of the writing and the author did an impressive job narrating the audiobook himself too (with multiple accents!), so I will definitely be trying out some more of his books.
Notes on content: Language: A scattering of mild swears and about 6-7 strong swears (both British and American). Sexual content: No sex scenes. At one point the narrator wonders if aliens he comes across are looking at crude visual material, but he's just speculating and no details. Violence: The narrator gets quite hungry and desperate for food and goes from scavenging dead aliens to killing sentient beings for food. Alien creatures kill some astronauts and one scene is a bit gorily described (think of a scene from the movie Aliens) Ethnic diversity: The astronaut crew comes from all over the planet. LGBTQ+ content: I don't remember anything Other: Isolation leading to insanity is part of the story. The narrator resorts to (view spoiler)[cannibalism (hide spoiler)]....more
A collection of comics about librarians, authors, readers, book characters, and various other tangentially-related bookish things.
The title comes fromA collection of comics about librarians, authors, readers, book characters, and various other tangentially-related bookish things.
The title comes from one specific comic and doesn't really indicate how many comics are about librarians. There were many more comics about authors than librarians, so perhaps Gauld should have made one extra comic about Revenge of the Authors (though half the time it is about the struggle to write, so maybe even Would-Be-Authors would be more apropos). A good number of these comics came from during the pandemic, so they document satire on Covid life (which will someday be fascinating to future generations I'm sure). For those who lived through it, these comics can now be both a reminder of how far we've come and what we made it through. As a librarian and avid reader, I most enjoyed the comics that were about librarians or reading or book buying or his clever twists of well-known titles or imagined author inspiration (the Jane Austen potential opening lines for Pride and Prejudice was hilarious). Hand this to your favorite bookish person and they will likely enjoy it quite a bit.
Notes on content: Language: No swearing Sexual content: There's a comic about elements of a story an author can add and two are related to romance but nothing graphic or explicit. Violence: Deaths in books or violent ends of characters are eluded to but nothing graphic in illustrations really. Ethnic diversity: A wide array of authors from various backgrounds are referenced, illustrations are black stick figures so that doesn't really come into play. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Some consumption of alcohol and smoking in a few comics....more
Maxine Justice is trying to reinvent herself into a big time attorney and show the firm that released her to save their own faces that they made a misMaxine Justice is trying to reinvent herself into a big time attorney and show the firm that released her to save their own faces that they made a mistake. But she underestimated their reach. Her night court appearances to cover the bills backfire big time and she actually loses money on the job. She's being evicted from her house and she can't pay her assistant (and can't survive without him). In the midst of these dire straights comes an offer that seems too good to be true. Some clients who claim to be aliens want her to broker a deal with the UN. They will give humanity a serum that will cure all genetics-related diseases and in turn they want 30% of the Earth's gold reserves. They've also set up Maxine in an executive suite in one of THE prime skyscrapers in town and given her an advance that solves all her immediate problems. Maxine is 90% sure they are insane and that there's a catch, but at this point she's desperate.
The plot in this does have twists and turns and eventually Maxine is in a court case that will determine the fate of the future of all humanity, but it takes 90% of the book to get there. For the most part, it is following Maxine around trying to show her old bosses they made a mistake and also winning the appeal of that night court case (and maybe uncovering some corruption in the process). Maxine likes arguing and is all about making money and winning cases more than caring for the people around her, which is some of the point of the story line. She has to learn to be a bit more kind and caring and principled. She is actually required to meet with a court therapist, an android Christian therapist, who she talks to frequently and adds depth to the story and her personal growth. It was an entertaining read but not as sharp witted as I was expecting, and sometimes the twist and turns in the various court cases were a touch hard to follow. And you have to wait for Maxine to be more likable. I don't know of any other scifi court case stories off the top of my head, so this does fill a void and offers something for the courtroom drama fans who like scifi. It was a good 3.5 star read for me but not mind blowing in my opinion...but courtroom drama is not my first choice in movies or books so take that with a grain of salt. I did appreciate the originality in this spin on first contact.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None. (It is mentioned that Maxine had a fling with the son of her former boss but absolutely no details.) Violence: There's potential for quite wide-spread violence, but the only thing described is one of Maxine's clients who got banged into a door by a rough security guard and has a black eye. Ethnic diversity: Based on his name, Maxine's assistant Kenji is of Japanese American descent. Maxine visits Guatemala and meets a doctor there. There's not a ton of visual descriptions of characters that I remember. LGBTQ+ content: None specified. Androids abound in the world and seem to usually adopt a he or she pronoun. Other: Big pharma does not like the idea of people being cured of diseases and there's a plot to reintroduce illnesses via the mail. Maxine faces at least 2 court cases that are not fair....more
Follow the daily adventures of a Polar Bear who runs a cafe, a Panda who works at the zoo part time and his mom who loves gardening, a Grizzly who livFollow the daily adventures of a Polar Bear who runs a cafe, a Panda who works at the zoo part time and his mom who loves gardening, a Grizzly who lives in the neighborhood, a human florist obsessed with pandas, and a penguin. They do things like try new menu items at the cafe, switch jobs for the day when Panda complains of being bored, wake Grizzly from hibernation for some fun, try curling, accidentally eat Mom's flowers and buy replacements, and have fun with puns.
I liked this one much better than the first collection because there was actually something of a plot to follow in the stories and there were fewer puns (which they try to explain by including the Japanese and transliterated Japanese) but which just don't quite come through in the same way in English.
Notes on content: Language: 1 or 2 minor swears if I remember right. Sexual content: None Violence: None Ethnic diversity: The humans appear to be Japanese. The animals seem to represent the ethnicities of the world regions they are usually found in. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Gardeners may be horrified at Panda's chomping of his Mom's plants indiscriminately. He chews off all the tulip plants before they can bloom....more
Riko learns from the "sage" that cats often do well with a companion cat, so she accepts her next quest of finding a 2nd cat who complements Musubi's Riko learns from the "sage" that cats often do well with a companion cat, so she accepts her next quest of finding a 2nd cat who complements Musubi's personality and getting them to live together in harmony.
Aww, Soboro is a cute addition to Riko and Musubi's lives. The book does a good job of portraying what life is like with 2 cats. I love how Riko wraps her mind around it like picturing finding another member of a questing group. An adorable feel good read with touches of cat humor.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: None Ethnic diversity: Japanese humans LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Cuteness overload!...more
Emmy Lake's world is about to get turned even more upside down. She's excited about the first change, Thelma and her 3 kids are going to move in with Emmy Lake's world is about to get turned even more upside down. She's excited about the first change, Thelma and her 3 kids are going to move in with Bunty and Emmy and everyone is excited about it. They can pool their ration coupons more, Thelma and the kids can get out of a moldy apartment, the kids have plans to add all sorts of animals to the backyard, and the kids will definitely bring more joy into Bunty and Emmy's lives. Emmy's going to need that joy because Women's Friend publisher Lord Overton has died and left the magazine to his niece, Mrs. Porter. Mrs. Porter comes sweeping into the magazine with loads of ideas of how to get rid of all the drab and dreary parts of the magazine and make it a fashion magazine for the right sort of woman reader. Emmy, Guy, and the rest of the staff (except Mrs. Pye) are very distraught over the way Mrs. Porter is taking away all of the parts of Woman's Friend that they've worked hard to build and that readers love. Can they get through to Mrs. Porter before she tanks their beloved magazine?
Mrs. Porter made me mad, and it took me a while to get through this because of her. I like all the bits of normal life, and the ending of the book is heartwarming. It's a bit of a rollercoaster to get there though. Pearce is brave enough to make these books a realistic picture of what life in London was like during WWII for the average person, including a historic bombing that results in the death of another person beloved by Emmy and friends. It really brings to life for readers a touch of how much death and suffering these people experienced among those they knew and loved, and why so many of them would cling to every bit of good in their lives and/or reach out to total strangers at a magazine like Woman's Friend. I hope Pearce keeps going and sees Emmy and friends through to the end of the war. I love spending time with them. Emmy has such a good heart and is an amazing friend and support to everyone around her. You can't help but like her.
Notes on content: Language: Probably around 16 mild swears (some British swears). One person starts to say a strong swear but stops himself. Sexual content: A letter to the magazine has a young woman saying she's afraid she might be pregnant (she just says she lost her head over a young man). Violence: A bombing off page results in the death of a named character and others. Other deaths and injuries during the war are constantly in the background but not described in any detail. Ethnic diversity: Characters are all White British LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Mrs Porter is very spoiled, stuck up, selfish, and completely blind to the issues of anyone poorer than herself. She tramples over others with no thought to their feelings or well being. Grief is very heavy for Emmy and her friends after the death of the one character, but she and others find ways to cope in healthy ways....more
A collection of stories from the creators of The Promised Neverland. One is about a recluse who creates an android toaster who wants a real body. ThenA collection of stories from the creators of The Promised Neverland. One is about a recluse who creates an android toaster who wants a real body. Then a story about a boy who lives next to a haunted condo that no one stays in long until a weird photographer comes. Then one about an orphan girl who is being adopted but she learns it is just being bought for parts. Then a story about the most wanted girl in the world who tinkered with her robotics father's computer and accidentally broke the code for sentient robots; everyone wants her but she's determined to not need a body guard, no matter how many her father sends with her. Then the recluse and android from the first story go universe hopping and meet some of the characters in the other stories. And finally, the survivors from Promised Neverland use the money Norman made to check off things on their wishlists.
I liked the story about the girl trying to avoid needing a body guard and obviously watching the kids from Promised Neverland do all sorts of fun stuff was great. The others were just meh to me. I would not hand this collection to many. There's nudity in the first story and suicide in the 2nd. I wish I could cut out certain stories for the teens at my school. The collection as a whole is a 2.5.
Notes on content: Language: About 20 minor swears. Sexual content: The recluse hauls out an anatomically mostly accurate female body for the android that is naked. Violence: There are battles in several of the story lines with a bit of blood. One of the stories involves plans for organ harvesting. One of the stories involves someone planning suicide and someone else tries to rescue them but die in the process and come back as a vengeful ghost. Ethnic diversity: A variety of possible ethnicities based on illustrations, none stated. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Suicidal thoughts in one story because of bullying. Guilt from causing a death. ...more
Spend another 4 seasons with Muco. Learn how Mr. Komatsu and Ushiko met each other. Watch Muco get jealous of a pretty lady, get in trouble with a boxSpend another 4 seasons with Muco. Learn how Mr. Komatsu and Ushiko met each other. Watch Muco get jealous of a pretty lady, get in trouble with a box of tissues, play with balls, and do lots more.
First off, I love that Muco's nose on the cover is shiny. Muco would be so proud. It was fun to learn that Komatsu and Ushiko used to be high school baseball teammates. And seeing Muco's antics in all the seasons with everyday items and events is loads of fun. Another delightful time with Muco. This is the perfect cozy, feel good kind of read to wind down the day with.
Notes on content: Language: About 6 minor swears. Sexual content: None Violence: None Ethnic diversity: All the people characters are from Japan, but some are from different areas of Japan. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: One of Komatsu's friends has a daughter who likes to talk about how her divorced parents refuse to talk to each other (she seems to think it is funny/just a fact of life, her father is upset by her talking to others about it)....more
Lee Urban is coming out of hiding after her assassination attempt for the family's Chinese New Year celebration. She's debating going back to universiLee Urban is coming out of hiding after her assassination attempt for the family's Chinese New Year celebration. She's debating going back to university after receiving an offer to join the Dragons AI team since that would mean she could stay in super secure housing. She's pretty sure her secret of being a Natural would be safe since the chances of her actually competing should be slim as a 2nd stringer. Furthermore, joining would give her a chance to go to the West and track down leads she has on her birth parents and the hybrid. But starting with her ex-boyfriend showing up at the family celebration, nothing seems like it will go according to her well-crafted plan.
Wow, there were a lot of twists and turns in this plot! It moves pretty fast and the plot gets quite intricate. It takes a bit of concentration at times to follow what was going on, but overall that's a good thing. I like intricately crafted plots. I really like the futuristic Chinese setting, and opening with a huge family CNY celebration really brings that to life. I kind of predicted how this would end but I never guessed how it would get there. That was a twist I did not expect. (And yes, I'm being vague. And no, I'm not going to spoil it with anything further.)
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: Nothing beyond a kiss Violence: The competitions get a bit crazy, there are some assassination attempts, and someone is held against their will and experimented on. There are violent protests and attacks going on, and some are witnessed. Ethnic diversity: Asian, white, Black, and other ethnicities among the main characters. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: There are different groups fighting for rights of various people groups and they go to a variety of extremes (and even though they say they are fighting for the same thing, sabotage each other). Naturals are treated as lesser humans compared to the Enhanced....more
Kazu and her daughter Sachi, along with Kazu's cousin Nagare have come up to run the Donna Donna cafe in Hakodate while the owner, Yukari (aunt of KazKazu and her daughter Sachi, along with Kazu's cousin Nagare have come up to run the Donna Donna cafe in Hakodate while the owner, Yukari (aunt of Kazu/mother of Nagare) is out of town. The Donna Donna also has a seat from which people may travel to another point in time to interact with someone else who has or will visit the cafe. They can't change anything about the present, and they must end their visit before the coffee gets cold, but that is still enough time to make the difference in the lives of a young woman who has grown up an orphan and is angry at her parents for dying, the woman's mother who came to the cafe with little purpose for going on until she met her daughter, a comedian who wants to see his deceased wife once more, and the waiter/aspiring comedian Reiji who works at the cafe and realizes too late that he loves a frequent customer.
This is very Japanese in that many of the characters have bittersweet plot lines and about half of the characters have lost loved ones are are soon to die themselves. The time travel often gives them that last bit of closure they need, and often in ways that surprise them. It's a bittersweet but often touching and highlights that many people just need to know someone cares or there is hope to keep going. We have several fans of the series in our library who will be eager to get their hands on this volume.
Notes on content: Language: Very rare mild swears and one strong use of profanity. Sexual content: None beyond a kiss Violence: A couple characters are dying of rare diseases or are suicidal (the suicidal ones are always given a reason to keep living by their time travel trips). Ethnic diversity: Visitors to the cafe are from all over Japan. The cafe owner is traveling in the USA and sends notes occasionally about people there, both Japanese and Americans. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: Grief, early death of loved ones, regrets, and depression are common themes. Each ends in a positive way, but the book may be too heavy with death for some. ...more
Charlie Harris is excited to begin processing the archives' latest donation from the Mayor. They are the Mayor's husband's great-something grandmotherCharlie Harris is excited to begin processing the archives' latest donation from the Mayor. They are the Mayor's husband's great-something grandmother's Civil War era diaries. But as soon as word gets out the diaries have been donated Charlie finds himself hounded by people demanding exclusive access. First there's Ms. Grimes who says she's a student but turns out to be a reporter, and then history professor Marie who is not known for her tact, and then others. The Mayor grants Marie the access after Charlie has time to process them, but he's only on his 2nd day into the job when he finds them missing. Someone has stolen the diaries. It is clear the state Senate race between the Mayor's son Beck and fellow old Athena family descendant, Jasper Singletary have something to do with the missing diaries. Everyone seems to think they are the key to digging up old dirt on either the Long or Singletary family, but do they really contain anything of the sort? And even if they do, who would steal them and why?
This was my favorite Cat in the Stacks mystery so far. I liked the history elements woven into the story (a centuries' old murder mystery from Civil War times is solved along with a present murder and theft). I liked the details on taking care of old diaries and the science involved. And there was less unnecessary drama in the side relationships. My copy also included a short story about how Charlie first found Diesel, which was cute. Hand this to readers who like cold cases, cozy mysteries, and unassuming sleuths.
Notes on content: Language: I don't remember anything. At most, one or two mild swears. Sexual content: Nothing more than some little kisses. Violence: A hit and run off page. Deaths during the Civil War era mostly from illness are mentioned. One suicide from the Civil War is uncovered. Ethnic diversity: Both White and Black Americans, social class and the clash between upper and lower is a big part of the Senate race LGBTQ+ content: A friend of Charlie's is gay (he appears in this story very briefly, but this book doesn't talk about his relationships at all) Other: Undiagnosed PTSD in the Civil War era severely impacts one man and his family....more
Charlie used to be a respected business journalist, but now he's a washed up, divorced, substitute teacher whose step-siblings are trying to push him Charlie used to be a respected business journalist, but now he's a washed up, divorced, substitute teacher whose step-siblings are trying to push him out of their father's house. When a lawyer shows up saying Charlie can own the house outright if he merely goes to play host at his estranged uncle's funeral, Charlie thinks he's lucked out. But within 24 hrs he's survived the strangest funeral in history (mostly involving preventing visitors from stabbing the corpse), his house has blown up, he learns his cat can type, and he finds out his uncle's business wasn't exactly just parking garages...thus the volcanic island lair he's been relocated to. Now people assume he's taking over his uncle's business and Charlie really isn't sure how he feels about all this.
This was a very funny premise, and Scalzi has fun poking and prodding at typical supervillain tropes. Charlie's background as a business journalist means he isn't entirely clueless about ruthless business matters, which makes him much more up to handling crazy supervillains' psychological games than you might at first think. The only reason this was a 3 star and not 4 star or more for me was way more swearing than I'd prefer (which is primarily the talking dolphins' fault - they work security around the island and whoa boy do they swear up a storm). The ending was clever and makes Charlie more likable and less villain-ish. And the smart typing cats were a great addition. Charlie's lucky they like him.
Notes on content: Language: There's smatterings of mild swearing throughout, and I lost track of the f bombs, well over 60 (and about 70% of that would be the dolphins). Sexual content: None Violence: There are explosions and shootings and death by dolphin as well as death from cancer off page. None of the wounds are described much, it is more left up to the imagination and deaths are mentioned or assumed. There's a whole host of people trying to confirm Charlie's uncle is really dead at the funeral and they have some very creative methods of wanting to test it. Ethnic diversity: The supervillain line up Charlie meets are from all over the globe. LGBTQ+ content: I don't remember any specific mentions. Other: The dolphins are trying to create a union and the question of whether sentient animals who can communicate have rights becomes part of the plot. Villainy is described as a business choice with a specific clientele and product (they try to put a positive spin on it) but Charlie isn't completely sold....more
Everly is happy to be able to cater her childhood friend's wedding. That is until the groom washes up dead in the surf during the reception. But who wEverly is happy to be able to cater her childhood friend's wedding. That is until the groom washes up dead in the surf during the reception. But who would kill a man right after he got married? Detective Hays would like Everly to leave the sleuthing to him this time, but she can't help if evidence and incidents keep popping up in front of her.
I listened to most of this on audiobook, and I enjoyed the narrator's different voices for characters. The mystery kept me guessing. In the background the town is having a festival where locals get to show off their wares, and her aunts are entering a bee video contest that starts taking over their and many others' lives. I liked the balance of character building as well as tracking down the murderer. The next book promises to happen at Christmas, and I really am interested by some of the final comments from characters about upcoming events.
Notes on content: Language: I don't remember any swearing, just a couple of uses of mild profanity. Sexual content: None on page. It is mentioned the groom had an affair with another woman days before the wedding, but absolutely no details. Violence: There are a couple deaths, but none is described in much detail (they happen off page and bodies are later discovered). A person is hit by a car and 2 are kidnapped. One person is non-fatally shot, and 2 others receive a nasty bump on the head. Ethnic diversity: There's not a lot of description of appearance of characters beyond the main ones who are White. LGBTQ+ content: None specified. Other: Some alcohol consumption. Shady business dealings come up....more
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