Leaf Through A Good Book
Are you looking for a satisfying mystery, or just a good book? I enjoy reading mysteries with interesting characters and a strong sense of place. It’s fascinating to get to know the detectives, sift through the clues, and try to discover the murderer. I also like fiction about families, and stories with unusual or quirky characters.
Some of my recent favorites include Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman, The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon, How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny, and The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan.
Song of the Lion (Mystery – Navajo Tribal Police – New Mexico): A mystery set in the Southwest, Anne Hillerman writes using the same characters that her beloved father, Tony Hillerman, created.
The Waters of Eternal Youth (Mystery – Venice - Commissario Guido Brunetti): A mystery about a cold case – a young girl was thrown into a canal and saved by a passer-by. The characters are complex and the setting is fantastic – behind the scenes in Venice.
How the Light Gets In (Mystery – Québec – Chief Inspector Gamache): In Three Pines Chief Inspector Armand Gamache investigates the disappearance of a woman who was once one of the most famous people in the world and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo. (This mystery is one in a remarkable series set in Three Pines).
The Baker's Secret (World War II Fiction – Occupied France – Normandy): A young woman baker in occupied Normandy carefully conducts resistance activities in order to keep her family and her village from starving. The characters in this novel are unforgettable.
Other authors to try: Margery Allingham, Nevada Barr, Elizabeth Berg, Agatha Christie, Lyn Hamilton, Jan Karon, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, Anne Tyler.
I hope that you enjoy these books, and that they inspire you discover new writers. Also, see me for Domestic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Animal Stories, and Nonfiction recommendations. Please stop by with your own suggestions when you see me at the Service Desk! Finding out about a new author or title is always a pleasure.
Wishing you good reading! ~ Robbin
