London Bridge is Falling Down by Christopher Fowler

Reviewed by Jeanne

Once again, the Peculiar Crimes Unit—an office devoted to investigating incidents that other departments don’t want to deal with—is threatened with closure.  Since this happens on a fairly regular basis, the motley crew of non-conformists aren’t overly concerned, at least until workers come and start removing all the furniture and fixtures.  It seems that the Powers That Be are serious about shutting them down this time. This can’t be done until the last case the unit is working on is cleared, however. 

The problem is they aren’t working on a case, but they need to find one and fast.

Hence their initial interest in the death of ninety-one year old Amelia Hoffman who was found dead in her apartment, apparently due to appalling neglect.  Bryant and May, the two unorthodox detectives that head the PCU, begin to notice some things that don’t quite add up about Amelia’s death.  It turns out that she was once a government worker with a high-level security clearance and there are indications that she never quite stopped working.

It soon becomes apparently that there’s something nefarious going on, and only the PCU can stop a disaster.

This is the final novel in the long-running PCU series.  While some series seem to lose steam and inspiration, this one never did. I found this last novel to be brilliant in terms of characters, plot, insights, and the series’ trademark humor.  All the elements I love are here: eccentric characters, fascinating history, a complex plot, laugh-out-loud lines, but most of all heart. I’m reminded of Terry Pratchett in the underlying themes about humanity and social contracts, of looking out for one another.  The PCU seems chaotic in their disregard for authority and failure to do things by the book, but they are deeply dedicated to truth and justice.

And I so admire how Fowler manages to upend expectations.  For example, Amelia Hoffman seems at first to have been a frail, fragile old woman, a pathetic victim. Instead, she turns out to have been one very strong, very resourceful individual.

The books are also very, very funny without being silly. The humor lightens the darkness, because the cases they investigate can be very dark indeed.  Practically every page has a line or two that begs to be read aloud and I will confess to walking around, book in hand, looking for likely listeners.  Since I have trouble reading the sections aloud without giggling incoherently, most people suddenly remember urgent appointments as far away from me as possible.

While this can certainly be read as a standalone, I think it would be better enjoyed if one or two other books in the series were read first.  I am certainly going to read the titles I’ve missed because I love not only the characters but the folklore and history of London that Fowler weaves into the narrative.

This book is definitely my cup of tea.

Nevermore: Lighting the Way, Toxic Designs, Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum

 

Nevermore 5-19-26             Reported by Rita

 

 

Lighting the Way: Nine Women Who Changed Modern America by Karenna Gore Schiff

Ida B. Wells-Barnett, who was born a slave and fought against lynching; Mother Jones, an Irish immigrant who organized coal miners and campaigned against child labor; Alice Hamilton, who pushed for regulation of industrial toxins; Frances Perkins, who developed key New Deal legislation; Virginia Durr, who fought the poll tax and segregation; Septima Clark, who helped to register black voters; Dolores Huerta, who organized farm workers; Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias, an activist for reproductive rights; and Gretchen Buchenholz, one of the nation’s leading child advocates. Gore Schiff delivers an intimate and accessible account of the nine trail-blazing women who deserve not only to be honored but to have their example serve as beacons.

It was educational yet easy to read. Very well-written.      -KM      4 stars

 

Toxic Designs by Kristi Holl

Nothing hits as close to home as having a loved one get sick, which means double trouble for Kate Stevens when her daughter, Vanessa and her best friend, Vivi Lawrence, both become deathly ill within hours of each other. Vanessa is home for two weeks over summer break, and a shared meal between the three of them seems to be the source of the food poisoning. But why doesn't Kate herself become ill? Is it just luck, or is something more sinister afoot? Kate becomes all the more suspicious when Vivi has several recurrences of illness, and doctors cannot find the cause. Kate is sure that someone is out to harm -- or worse, eliminate -- her friend, but no one will listen to her protestations, not even Vivi.

I thought it was kind of trite - it felt juvenile.      -BH       3 stars

 

The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum by Valerie Wilson Wesley

At the darkly glamorous height of the Roaring 20s, an independent Black intellectual and her bi-racial foster child are immersed in the vibrant world of the Harlem Renaissance – and a shocking murder on Striver’s Row.

It's very well-written. The language is wonderful.    -AH        5 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned

 

 

Victor T. Vulture by Roger Jones

Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam

Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin

The Amazing Mrs. Polifax by Dorothy Gilman

 

 

New Books

 

Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World by Brandon Keim

Rasputin: The Downfall of the Romanovs by Antony Beevor

A Terrible Intimacy by Melvin Patrick Ely

Travels with Agatha Christie by David Suchet

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Actor David Suchet is best known for his portrayal of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective who featured in many of Agatha Christie’s books.  In fact, he is the only actor to have portrayed Poirot in the film adaptations of every one of the novels.  He is a great admirer of Agatha Christie, so he was intrigued at the opportunity to the retrace the author’s 1922 journey to various parts of the British Empire.  Accompanied by his wife, Sheila, Suchet set out to cover six countries in fifty-seven days.

Of course, the countries they encountered were in some ways quite different than when Agatha visited a century earlier; one of the themes Suchet addresses is the effect being a part of the British Empire had on these countries and the lingering effects of colonialism.

They travelled to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Canada. Suchet is a talented photographer, and the book is well-illustrated with his pictures.  The book is mostly a light travelogue with some observations about native cultures, natural beauty, and a bit of how these things may have appeared in Christie’s writing.  The idea is to try to show things as Agatha would have seen them, but in the intervening century, a lot of things have changed.

It’s also important to note that the trip took place in the early days of Agatha’s writing career.  She had just published two books at the time—The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which introduced the world to Hercule Poirot, and The Secret Adversary starring Tommy and Tuppence—so while she was making a bit of a name for herself, she wasn’t a celebrity.  She was married to her first husband, Col. Archibald Christie, at the time and rather trying to conform to society’s expectations at the time.

This isn’t to say that she didn’t indulge a bit! In Hawaii, she became fascinated by surfing and became one of the first white women to try the sport. 

One of the things I try when reviewing a book is to review what the book is, as opposed to what I wanted it to be.  In this case, I wanted it to be more about Agatha and how it may have related to her work.  Instead, it was a bit more of a modern travelogue, though entertainingly told.  The photos are excellent and add a great deal to the book. It’s also a very personal book in many ways, with information about Suchet himself, his family, his admiration for Agatha Christie, and a look at how things have changed since the Empire.  He has great admiration for native cultures and applauds those who are preserving traditions for future generations.

For me, the book came off as a bit flat. I kept thinking it read like an adaptation and sure enough, it seems to have come about as a result of a five part documentary.  I think it’s best read as a companion piece to the documentary, adding depth and possibly a more personal touch. However, if you are a fan of Suchet’s Poirot, I would definitely give this book a try whether or not you’ve seen the program.

Spooky Science: Dissecting the Mysteries of Ghosts, Cryptids, Aliens, and other Oddities by Megan Ankney and Paige Miller

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Based on the “Spooky Science Sisters” podcast, this book delves into some of the world’s most fascinating paranormal subjects. Ankney and Miller emphasize science in their discussions, which include possible explanations for some apparently supernatural occurrences. However, they can also be skeptical of some of the alleged science behind some explanations. For example, one researcher claims that some low level electromagnetic fields may cause hallucinations but the authors point out that efforts to replicate his research have met with mixed results.

That, in a nutshell, is why I like this book so much.  The authors keep an open mind and are sympathetic to other points of view.

They are also well-versed in their subject matter, citing cases and providing updated information on some classic cases.  The articles are brief, but very informative, and I love the casual, somewhat humorous tone—I can see where they would have a very successful podcast! I also enjoyed that most of the topics are a couple of pages, which makes this a great book to dip into when you just have a few minutes free.

Besides ghosts, the authors lightly address monsters, urban legends, cryptids, and aliens. Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster get most of the coverage for cryptids, but Mothman rates a mention.  Monsters include werewolves and vampires, while the urban legends section includes Bloody Mary and BEKs.  The last were new to me: Black Eyed Kids which are (allegedly) children who have no whites to their eyes, speak in a monotone, and want to come into your house.  Since I do not let people into my house until I have cleaned it and the last time I did that—well, never mind.  Let’s just say you shouldn’t name dust bunnies.

Extra points for having an index AND a list of sources!

Nevermore: In the Fields of Fatherless Children, 10% Happier, Son of Nobody

 

Nevermore 5-12-26                          Reported by Rita

 

In the Fields of Fatherless Children by Pamela Steele

In late 1960s Appalachia, many things loom darkly over June the Vietnam War is dividing the country, and a strip mine is eating away the mountain at the head of the holler where she lives, threatening the natural landscape and the only way of life she has ever known. While still in high school, June has fallen in love. She is pregnant, and the father may be Ellis Akers. Ellis is the son of Solomon, a mortal enemy of June’s stepfather, Isom. The feud is so old it fuels two vengeful men with the power of long animosity between rival families. June’s brother, Tom, leaves to enlist in the war, and so does Ellis. Suddenly, June is on her own, at sixteen with a newborn, and is a mother unable to protect her daughter from the wrath of Isom. Without warning, her baby is kidnapped. Guided by her love for the generations of women before her, but now desperately alone, June must carefully navigate the search for her child alongside family and strangers in a wild and disappearing landscape.

It's very descriptive and the setting is great. I really enjoyed it.      -MS     5 stars

 

10% Happier by Dan Harris

After having a nationally televised panic attack, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing he always thought was his greatest asset: the incessant, insatiable voice in his head, which had propelled him through the ranks of a hypercompetitive business, but had also led him to make the profoundly stupid decisions that provoked his on-air freak-out. Eventually Harris stumbled upon an effective way to rein in that voice, something he always assumed to be either impossible or useless: meditation, a tool that research suggests can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain. "10% Happier" takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America's spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives.

I found this book to be very informative. I recommend it.      -KM       4 stars

 

Son of Nobody by Yann Martel

Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey were not the only ancient tales of the Trojan War. In Son of Nobody, Yann Martel composes a new the Psoad, an epic in free verse that follows a goatherd’s son, Psoas of Midea, who leaves his wife and family to fight at Troy. Psoas meets his doom and the poem of his life is lost—until a Canadian academic studying at Oxford, Harlow Donne, discovers its relics thirty centuries later. As Harlow assembles and comments on the fragments in footnotes, he retrieves memories of his wife and daughter and grapples with questions of ambition, family, and responsibility in both the ancient and modern worlds.

Profound - I loved it!      -DC       5 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned

 

Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan

Across the Plains in 1884 by Catherine Sager

We the Women by Norah O'Donnell

Gutsy Women by Hillary Clinton & Chelsea Clinton

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson

Toxic Designs by Kristi Holl

North of Ordinary by Sue Aikens

 

 

New Books

 

Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn

The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon

Starry and Restless by Julia Cooke

Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

If you are very fortunate, you may encounter a special coffee shop, but only when the moon is full—or if it’s a special time of year.  The Full Moon Coffee shop workers sometimes appear as cats, but they have to be humans in cat suits, right? Whoever they are, they are very fond of Western astrology and are prone to give customers advice and insights.

In this second book in the series, three young women are going to be fortunate enough to encounter the shop. Each one is troubled this Christmas season: Satomi is afraid she’s going to have to choose between a job she loves and her boyfriend; Koyuki doesn’t want to go visit her mother and her mother’s new husband over the holiday because she doesn’t feel as if she’s a real part of the family now; and Junko dreads going to visit her domineering father who has been hospitalized.  None of them can see an easy solution—not until they visit the coffee shop.

I’m a sucker for a book with a cat on the cover, so I’ve read several of these series from (mostly) Japanese authors which feature people who have a mystical experience that helps them resolve difficulties.  It may be having a special meal from childhood or going back in time as for as long as a cup of coffee stays hot or even asking a librarian for help on a topic, but any way they go, they find clarity and closure, while the reader wipes away a tear or two and feels better about the world.  There’s a reason such books are sometimes dubbed “healing fiction.”

I’ll admit I was a bit dubious at the first book, The Full Moon Coffee Shop, because there was a lot of talk about advanced astrology: this planet was in that house, there were planets in conjunction or opposition, and I thought I would just be overwhelmed.  Turns out I wasn’t but I had gained a little more understanding of astrology.  Whether or not you buy into astrology or just roll your eyes at mentions of Leo or Capricorn or Libra, this is still a fun and thoughtful book.  The theme this time is moon signs, which show a person’s hidden desire, the one true thing they want above all.  When asked, most people come up things like winning the lottery or becoming famous, but these things can obscure the real wish: maybe to win a parent’s approval or to forgive someone.

You needn’t have read the first book to enjoy this one, but some of the characters from the first book get a shout-out here.  The book reads very smoothly; sometimes a translated book can feel choppy or stilted, but this one doesn’t.

The author’s note said she didn’t intend to write a sequel but was inspired to do so from an illustration.  Here’s hoping another illustration will bring a third book.

Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar

Reviewed by Kristin

These stories often read like fairy tales. In the titular story, “Seasons of Glass and Iron”, Tabitha is wearing iron shoes. She must walk and walk until they are worn out, and then begin anew in a new pair. Amira is sitting on a high glass hill, trapped there with a continual supply of golden apples. Only when the iron meets glass do the women find a possible escape.

“Florilegia; or, Some Lies about Flowers” is of Blodeuwedd, a woman who was formed from blossoms and trapped into a loveless marriage. She is more at home communing with the mud, the bees, and the books of the library, than with the life she is expected to lead. As in most tales cleverness prevails, and with El-Mohtar’s skill, in a mere sixteen pages.

“Pockets” finishes the collection, as strange and impossible items appear in Nadia’s pocket. Somewhere between a scientific investigation and a wise librarian, Nadia finds some measure of resolution to her mysterious collection.

This is a hard collection to describe. El-Mohtar does not suffer from using too many words. In almost everything I’ve read from her, she makes every word count. This slim volume contains eighteen writings published in a magazine, anthology, or online between 2008 and 2023. As El-Mohtar notes in the introduction, she saw a lot of life changes in those fifteen years. Each entry serves as a snapshot of that particular time in her life. There is not cohesion between stories, both poems and prose, but for the beauty of the precise words chosen.