Category: books
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Book review: When Gods Die by C.S. Harris
When Gods Die by C.S. Harris My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the second in the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series and follows up on a strong debut novel (“What Angels Fear”). There are lots of things going on in this mystery–a countess is killed, and the Prince Regent is a strong suspect,…
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Book review: The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn
The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the final book in the Lady Julia Grey series, and I confess that I took my time reading it. I have loved this series since it came out—the first book, “Silent as the Grave” being a particular favorite. It contains one…
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Book review: Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell
Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the 3rd book in the Saxon series (I know–I am way behind), and this one is my favorite so far. (Which is not to say that I disliked the other ones.) But by book #3, Uhtred’s personality is well-established as…
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Book review: A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn My rating: 3 of 5 stars I really enjoyed the author’s Julia Gray mystery series, so I was looking forward to the beginning of another series by her. But I was torn about this novel when I finished it. There are very few things in life that I am…
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Book review: Dreaming Spies by Laurie King
Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King My rating: 4 of 5 stars I really enjoy this mystery series and its unique and interesting take on Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately, the past few books have been the weakest of the lot, so I was delighted that #13 in the series proved to be such a delightful read.…
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Book review: What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris
What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is the first in a Regency mystery series featuring Sebastian St. Cyr, an aristocrat with an interesting set of skills learned in fighting for the British against Napoleon. Don’t let the Regency time period deceive you, however. This is not a…
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Book review: Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is the inspiration for the Broadway musical (and cultural) smash “Hamilton” (and, in fact, the author receives royalties from the musical). I have mixed feelings about this biography and mixed feelings about the subject. Alexander Hamilton was clearly a brilliant man, excellent…
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Book review: The Millionaire and the Bard by Andrea Mays
The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folger’s Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare’s First Folio by Andrea Mays My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Folger Shakespeare Library (located in Washington, DC) has the world’s largest collection of First Folios (the original compilation of Shakespeare’s plays). To explain how the largest collection of the world’s greatest English…
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Book review: An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson
An Expert in Murder by Nicola Upson My rating: 4 of 5 stars I am familiar with the actual author, Josephine Tey, who was a strong believer in the innocence of Richard III in the murder of his nephews, as evidenced by her book “Daughter of Time.” She was also the author of several mysteries,…
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Book review: To Wear the White Cloak by Sharan Newman
To Wear The White Cloak by Sharan Newman My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was reminded recently by a professor of medieval English literature that the author of this mystery series was “a real historian.” In fact, the professor hadn’t even realized that the author had written a historical mystery series, being only familiar…