“Heresy: An Elizabethan Thriller” ©2010 by S.J. Harris
An Italian ex-monk is sent to Oxford College in England as a scholar to debate if the earth is the center not only of the solar system but of the whole universe. He, Bruno, is also a spy. Copernicus has somewhat recently figured out that the earth revolves around the sun and many condemned the scientist and called his discovery sacrilege (sound familiar?). Bruno was debating the Rector on the science side.
But that is not the only plot line – currently Elizabeth I is Queen of England and is a protestant. Therefore, Catholicism must be wiped out of England. Bruno’s spy part of his job is to discover hidden pockets of Catholicism at Oxford and rat them out to the English government.
Oh, and there is a murderer on the loose.
Interesting and could be fascinating idea, but in actuality it was a rather ‘Meh’ read due to poor character development (do we like the Rector or is he just awful?), the unlikely ability of the murderer, holes in the plot – (where was Bruno’s friend all the while?) and all the endless running around in the rain.
“Nemesis” ©1971 by Agatha Christie
A very elderly Miss Marple is asked to go on an unnamed quest for justice by a recently deceased acquaintance. She is sent on a garden bus tour by pre-arrangement of said acquaintance and slowly she figures out what crime happened and who was unjustly punished and who went scot-free. All is set to rights (except, of course, the people who were murdered) So good! Ms. Christie shows once again that one can tell a wonderfully intricate and involved story without running around hither and thither like a mad hatter!
“The Stone Diaries” ©1993 by Carol Shields
This book won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle award. “The Stone Diaries” was written as if it was a biography of Daisy Goodwell Flett’s life from her birth in 1905 in Canada to her death in the late 20th century in Florida. The story is told from many people’s perspectives, and we don’t hear Daisy’s voice until the end of her life. It was fascinating how this story showed that what goes on in one’s head has little or nothing to do with how other people view you or any event that one is a part of.
The story was also an interesting general overview of the 20th century from one family’s point of view.
“Trixie Belden: The Mystery off Glen Road” (#5 in series) ©1956 by Julie Campbell
Another fun mystery adventure with Trixie and her ‘Bob Whites’ crew. This episode takes place over Thanksgiving when a big storm felled a tree on the newly finished clubhouse and Honey’s father’s new games keeper quit. It’s the Bob Whites in action as they take over trail patrol to earn money to fix the roof. Along the way Trixie and Honey make a mysterious discovery that needs to be solved.
“The Antelope Wife” ©1988 by Louise Erdrich
Louise Erdrich is a unique author. She melds Native American culture, myths, beliefs with modern day occurrences. Like a “Passage to India”, the story made me aware of how cultural world views can make it hard for communication to occur in a meaningful way.
The story follows two family lines and jumps a bit in time, place and family, but ultimately it is family that is important. Melding cultures, dealing with mistakes, loss, and joys together.
“Family stories repeat themselves in patterns and waves generation to generation, across bloods and time. Once the pattern is set we go on replicating it.”
Interesting and melancholy.
“Murder at the Kennedy Center” ©1989 by Margaret Truman
Mac is a lawyer turned professor who is a friend of Senator Sam Ewald. Mac is part of the committee for the Senator’s fund-raising event as a hopeful presidential candidate. The event is at the Kennedy Center and afterwards one of the Senator’s aides is found murdered and his son is the prime suspect.
Mac is asked to be his lawyer. He accepts and gets help from a long-ago client/cop and his fellow ex-lawyer girlfriend.
Many twists, trips to San Francisco and New York City, some international intrigue. A little sloggy, but good.
“The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Long-Lost Home” (#6 in series) ©2018 by Maryrose Wood
This is the last book of the series and all the mysteries are solved, the secrets told, the parents found, the curse broken. Very tidy, but still a fun read and an enjoyable series.
“A Sunlit Weapon” (#17 of the Maisie Dobbs series) ©2022 by Jacqueline Winspear
Set in 1942 during WWII, the focus is on the women who flew airplanes during the war – mostly to courier planes to airbases and not in actual combat. Still, it was a dangerous job!
One pilot was shot at near a farm and later when she goes to check it out (by car) she finds and rescues a black American soldier who was tied up in a barn near where she was shot at.
She goes to Maise to help find answers: who shot at her? What really happened to a fellow pilot who was killed recently? What happened to the American GI?
The trail to answers is winding and includes some international intrigue and a bullying school headmistress.
The understanding, compassion and patience Maisie shows is heartwarming. My lesson was that just because you are right, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be kind. Very good.