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TCO Reviews: Perilous Times by Thomas D. Lee
It feels like the Knights of the Round Table are having a bit of a moment. I can think of at least five Arthurian fantasy revivals published in the last few years. And as a mythology retelling nerd, I’m loving the resurgence – and all the modern takes. Whether exploring a smaller part of the…
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An ode to independent bookstores: an oasis of caring and exploration
Last Saturday was Independent Bookstore Day, and I (of course) bought a pile of books at my favorite bookstore in SF, Dog-Eared Books. There’s nothing like walking into a great bookstore, and I always leave with a stack of new reads. Not only that – I always find new books I could never find anywhere…
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The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, Part 2: balancing texture, theme, and plot
And so we come to the adaptation of The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side. Having watched two in quick succession, I now understand why I had underestimated the value of the novel. Neither the BBC nor iTV was able to capture the magic of the original well. Both focus almost exclusively on the plot,…
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The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, Part 1: a more expansive world
I’m back! And with a great Miss Marple to come back to. I’ll be honest, I didn’t remember The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side that much when I started it. I recalled there being an irritating victim and some kind of Hollywood drama – but I did not remember how smooth a read it…
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TCO Reviews: Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon
Most of my reading fare is quite earnest, but every once in a while – when I’m in the right mood – I sit down for something a little snarky. I grew up in Florida reading Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry, so crime and comedy have always seemed connected. So I was pretty excited to…
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Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers: The power of a cozy Sunday read
Only two point twenty-five years into the 2020s, and the decade is shaping up to be a lot. From the pandemic to a crazy economy, it feels like these few years will go down as both Historically and personally memorable. And while some days I wake up ready to dive right in, other days all…
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TCO Reviews: The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Grey
Like many an adult who used to be a teenage girl, I have a soft spot in my heart for Jane Austen and her ever-relatable stories. I’ve spent many a rainy afternoon cozied up with Eliza and Elinor and Anne and a warm mug of tea. As a mystery lover, you can imagine my delight…
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Epistolaries and choice: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
Those who follow the blog will know I am a HUGE fan of Janice Hallett – so much so that I import her books from the UK just to read them ahead of schedule. And despite some shenanigans, my Waterstones order of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels has finally hit my mailbox. I’ve…
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TCO Reviews: Sepulchre Street / The House on Graveyard Lane by Martin Edwards
I’ve got the making of a series on the brain, and it’s a perfect week to take on a new entry in the Rachel Savernake series by Martin Edwards. Sepulchre Street is Edwards’ fourth novel, and the fourth to feature his mysterious amateur sleuth, Rachel Savernake. Edwards is, of course, the premier expert on Golden…
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4:50 from Paddington, Part 2: Battle of the Lucys
We’re back with 4:50 from Paddington, and this week I want to take a look at how the BBC and iTV chose to adapt Lucy Eyelesbarrow. As a quick recap: Lucy Eyelesbarrow is one of my favorite Christie characters – a smart, independent woman who knows her strength in the domestic sphere and has the…