“Sister Light Sister Dark” (book 1 of 3) ©1988 by Jane Yolen
This fantasy is set in the distant past in a society of Amazonian warrior women who also take in abandoned children. The “light” sister lives in the here and now and the “dark” sister lives only in the night and is a reflection or partner to their light sisters.
The story is about a prophecy of a child who will be abandoned by her mother three times and become a great leader. The story follows this young woman through her life. There is a male warrior clan who desire to rule the whole region and attack the different settlements of these women.
The author tells the story using different heading such as “The Myth”, “The Legend”, “The Story”, “The History” and etc. All tell of the same event from different points of view and time frames. It is interesting to read, for example “The Myth”, and then read “The Story” behind the myth. “The History” tells from historians and archeologist’s reconstruction of the story in the far future.
Good read!
“Dear Mr. Knightley” ©2013 by Katherine Reay
My friend, Roxanne, thought I might enjoy this book. I did!
This is a re-telling of the story “Daddy-Long-Legs” by Jean Webster. In this version, rather than an orphanage, the young woman (Sam) is a returned foster-care child who lives in a group home. Her anonymous benefactor offers to fund her to go to a prestigious graduate school for journalism with the stipulation that they do not meet and she regularly updates him on her progress by writing letters.
Sam calls her benefactor “Mr. Knightly” after Jane Austen’s handsome and rich character in her book “Emma”.
While the story is predictable, Sam does some self-examination and growing, she confronts her painful past and acknowledges where she could do better.
Cute.
“Ordeal by Innocence” ©1958 by Agatha Christie
This is a “stand alone” mystery from Agatha Christie.
A man, Dr. Arthur Calgary, was away over seas for several years. When he returned to England, he found out that the police had been looking for him in connection to a murder case where he could be an alibi for a young man. By the time he discovered all this, the case had gone to trial, the young man convicted of the murder of his mother and sent to jail where he died of pneumonia.
Feeling guilty and having a need to set things right, Dr. Calgary goes to his lawyer, the police and finally the family to let them know that their son/brother was innocent.
To his surprise, the family is horrified. Now the case has to be re-opened. Who really did kill the mother? Was it one of them? And why?
Eventually the truth comes out. So good!
“Amethyst Dreams” ©1997 by Phyllis A. Whitney
Hallie’s best friend from college is Susan. They keep in touch, but lately not as often. When Hallie gets a request from Susan’s ill grandfather to come out from LA to his home on an island on the east coast, she is surprised and concerned to learn that Susan has been missing for quite a while. The grandfather wants Hallie, with her insight and friendship with Susan, to help find her.
Since Hallie has been recently separated from her husband, she agrees. The cast of characters all seem to have something to hide. Island history and family history intertwine. Hallie’s husband shows up.
In the end the mystery is solved, the bad guy caught and several relationships are mended.
Pretty good! A bit predictable.
P.S. Phyllis A. Whitney was a prolific writer of romantic mysteries. The romance part is not explicit (yay!). Her settings are well described and often a bit exotic. Sometimes I get irritated by the women in her stories being so focused on the object of their desire. I do enjoy that her stories are an easy, if a predictable read. Sometimes that is all I’m looking for. She also wrote many junior and young adult mysteries, as well as three books about writing. “Amethyst Dreams” is the last novel she published.
“Miss Benson’s Beetle” ©2020 by Rachel Joyce
This book has been requested by nearly every book club that our library supports. I had to read it!
It is an easy read that pulls you along nicely through the story. The charm of a quest for a beetle that may or may not exist was enticing. Especially when undertaken not by scientists, explorers or museum personnel, but by a fed-up, lonely, middle aged, broke, ex-school teacher and her scatter-brained assistant.
Margery Benson advertises for an assistant to help with her quest. She gets more than she bargained for! First, a war veteran who can’t take “no” for an answer secretly follows the expedition. Second, Enid Pretty who is ill prepared to be an assistant to anything, let alone an expedition to a jungle island on the other side of the world. She also has a secret or two about her past.
Miss Benson does have a good foundation in science and knows how to go about collecting and recording her finds. She and Enid make their way to New Caledonia and set up camp in a rundown cabin and get to work.
All the adventure and misadventure, revelations and self-discoveries make this a touching and good read.
“Death of a Peer” ©1940 by Ngaio Marsh
Roberta Grey travels from New Zealand to London to visit a family of childhood friends. The Lamprey’s are a family of eight. They are a large, fun, noisy bunch and are mostly broke. They would be truly broke if not for being a part of a “peerage” and being Lord and Lady Lamprey with an older brother, Lord Wutherwood (also known as Uncle Gabriel), who gives them a stipend.
While Uncle Gabriel and his wife are visiting the Lamphrey’s, he is murdered!
Inspector Alleyn arrives with his trusty detective Fox and Alleyn’s journalist friend, Nigel Bathgate.
Figuring out where everybody was before during and after the murder takes careful questioning. The family is large and so is the staff.
Very satisfying.
I read some Phyllis A. Whitney this summer too. I just finished the Trembling Hills. This was a break from her normal mystery/Gothic genre–it was more historical. The first half was ‘normal life’ for the main characters who lived in San Francisco –then about half through the book, they experienced an earth-shaking event that changed the course of all their lives. (hint hint!) Thank you for your reviews, for motivating us with your love of reading and your generosity in sharing!!
I know I have read several of Phyllis A. Whitney’s books in the past, including a couple she wrote for younger people. When I came across this one, I thought she might be worth a re-visit. I am sure that I will read more of books as the opportunity arises. The story line of “Trembling Hills” sounds very familiar.