The Spy Who Loved Me, by Ian Fleming, was different than the other James Bond books I've read. Bond doesn't appear in the book until over halfway through the story. Instead, the story is told in the first person by Vivienne Michel, a young woman from Canada who is on an adventure and runs into a situation she can't handle.
The story has nothing in common with the movie that has the same name, and while I was confused a little at the start, I found the book very interesting and different. It was published in 1962, and I was surprised at some of the content for that era.
While I have enjoyed some of the other James Bond stories, this was a daring change of pace for James Bond stories, and I also enjoyed this one!
This fulfills a requirement for the Mt. TBR Challenge.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Bingoed by Patricia Rockwell review
"Bingoed", by Patricia Rockwell, features Essie Cobb, a 90-year-old resident of the Happy Haven Assisted Living Facility. Essie is assisted in her investigations by her friends; Opal, Marjorie and Fay, who are also residents of the Happy Haven.
In "Bingoed", a fellow resident, Bob Weiderley, suddenly falls into a coma after winning a game of Bingo. Essie and friends find this hard to believe, as Bob was one of the healthier residents and winning a game of Bingo didn't seem to be exciting enough to cause any kind of medical problems. They suspect someone deliberately caused Bob's coma.
Essie, Opal, Fay and Marjorie begin their investigation, and come up with several possible suspects, and quite a few possible motives.
It was an interesting read, a cozy mystery that was I enjoyed reading!
This book is for my Mt. TBR Reading Challenge .
Also for the A to Z Challenge author--R
In "Bingoed", a fellow resident, Bob Weiderley, suddenly falls into a coma after winning a game of Bingo. Essie and friends find this hard to believe, as Bob was one of the healthier residents and winning a game of Bingo didn't seem to be exciting enough to cause any kind of medical problems. They suspect someone deliberately caused Bob's coma.
Essie, Opal, Fay and Marjorie begin their investigation, and come up with several possible suspects, and quite a few possible motives.
It was an interesting read, a cozy mystery that was I enjoyed reading!
This book is for my Mt. TBR Reading Challenge .
Also for the A to Z Challenge author--R
Monday, October 28, 2013
Senior Snoops by Madison Johns
The main characters in this story are Agnes Barton, a senior citizen and sometime private investigator, and her friend, Eleanor Mason. This is the third in the series.
The story starts when Sheriff Clem Peterson sends Agnes and Eleanor to Florida from Michigan, as he had promised. They are flying on a private plane, which has to make a fuel stop on the way. Unfortunately, during the fuel stop, armed men shoot the pilot. One of the other passengers takes over the controls, and flies them out of danger. While on the plane, Agnes finds an envelope stuffed with money.
They are met at the airport in Florida by Sheriff Clem Peterson's brother, another Sheriff Petersen, Calvin. He takes them to the Sunny Brooke Retirement Village, where they find out that while Clem Peterson had arranged for them to go to Florida and to stay at the Retirement Village, he was not paying for their stay as they had thought--they were supposed to work as the hired help to pay for their room and board.
While there they have to deal with an antagonistic Sheriff Calvin Peterson, overbearing agents of Homeland securtity who want to know about a package on the plane--which Agnes and Eleanor claim they know nothing about--and the discovery that 2 maids have already gone missing from the Retirement Village.
The plot is intriguing, but the book has several typos and grammatical errors that I found distracting.
In spite of these problems, I did find the plot interesting, and have read other books in the series. For the price, they are worth reading--although they would be better if the book had a better editor and proof-reader.
This book fulfills a requirement in A to Z Challenge. Title--the letter S.
The story starts when Sheriff Clem Peterson sends Agnes and Eleanor to Florida from Michigan, as he had promised. They are flying on a private plane, which has to make a fuel stop on the way. Unfortunately, during the fuel stop, armed men shoot the pilot. One of the other passengers takes over the controls, and flies them out of danger. While on the plane, Agnes finds an envelope stuffed with money.
They are met at the airport in Florida by Sheriff Clem Peterson's brother, another Sheriff Petersen, Calvin. He takes them to the Sunny Brooke Retirement Village, where they find out that while Clem Peterson had arranged for them to go to Florida and to stay at the Retirement Village, he was not paying for their stay as they had thought--they were supposed to work as the hired help to pay for their room and board.
While there they have to deal with an antagonistic Sheriff Calvin Peterson, overbearing agents of Homeland securtity who want to know about a package on the plane--which Agnes and Eleanor claim they know nothing about--and the discovery that 2 maids have already gone missing from the Retirement Village.
The plot is intriguing, but the book has several typos and grammatical errors that I found distracting.
In spite of these problems, I did find the plot interesting, and have read other books in the series. For the price, they are worth reading--although they would be better if the book had a better editor and proof-reader.
This book fulfills a requirement in A to Z Challenge. Title--the letter S.
Valentined by Patricia Rockwell review
This is an Essie Cobb Senior Sleuth mystery. There are several books in the series. Essie is a resident of the Happy Haven Assisted Living Facility.
When she gets a fancy Valentine, she attempts to find out who had given it to her. She gets quite a lot of help, as usual, from her friends; Opal, Marjorie and Faye, also residents of Happy Haven. In this, the third book in the series, Essie also gets some help from her grand daughter.
This was an interesting story, mostly because of the way the Senior Citizens were interacting. I enjoyed it as a light, easy to read, mystery.
This fulfills a requirement in A to Z Challenge Title--V.
When she gets a fancy Valentine, she attempts to find out who had given it to her. She gets quite a lot of help, as usual, from her friends; Opal, Marjorie and Faye, also residents of Happy Haven. In this, the third book in the series, Essie also gets some help from her grand daughter.
This was an interesting story, mostly because of the way the Senior Citizens were interacting. I enjoyed it as a light, easy to read, mystery.
This fulfills a requirement in A to Z Challenge Title--V.
Zero Minus Ten by Raymond Benson review
This is a James Bond story, continuing the series started by Ian Fleming. This is the first of the novels featuring James Bond by Raymond Benson.
James is sent to Hong Kong and becomes involved with the Chinese Triad gangs, car bombs, and an exploding restaurant. There is a lot of excitement, and a lot of danger. There are also beautiful women, and villains that want Bond dead.
While Benson isn't Ian Fleming, he seems to have gotten the flavor of James Bond in his story, a James Bond that is updated to the 1990s.
I'm glad to have found this author, to continue reading about James Bond, one of my favorite spies.
This fulfills a requirement in The 2013 A to Z Reading Challenge Title--Z
James is sent to Hong Kong and becomes involved with the Chinese Triad gangs, car bombs, and an exploding restaurant. There is a lot of excitement, and a lot of danger. There are also beautiful women, and villains that want Bond dead.
While Benson isn't Ian Fleming, he seems to have gotten the flavor of James Bond in his story, a James Bond that is updated to the 1990s.
I'm glad to have found this author, to continue reading about James Bond, one of my favorite spies.
This fulfills a requirement in The 2013 A to Z Reading Challenge Title--Z
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Between a Clutch and a Hard Place by Gayle Trent
I bought this story for my Kindle, as it was less than a dollar, had good reviews, and I was checking out some authors I hadn't read before.
The mystery begins when Myrtle buys a purse at a thrift shop, and finds a note inside that says, "If anything happens to me, look to Jim. He did it" Signed by Flora Adams.
And then, Myrtle meets Jim Adams, a widower.
The mystery isn't that difficult to solve, and the story is easy to read. A nice mystery to read when you want something while sitting at the pool, and don't want to think too much.
This fulfills a requirement of An A to Z Mystery Challenge author--G
The mystery begins when Myrtle buys a purse at a thrift shop, and finds a note inside that says, "If anything happens to me, look to Jim. He did it" Signed by Flora Adams.
And then, Myrtle meets Jim Adams, a widower.
The mystery isn't that difficult to solve, and the story is easy to read. A nice mystery to read when you want something while sitting at the pool, and don't want to think too much.
This fulfills a requirement of An A to Z Mystery Challenge author--G
Dog On It by Spencer Quinn review
I really enjoyed this book! It was written from the viewpoint of Chet, a dog. He is partnered with Bernie, a private detective. The whole concept is interesting, and the story is entertaining and a fun read.
Chet occasionally has a short attention span, and can be distracted by, well, almost anything. He is a dog, after all. But he cares about Bernie, and does his best to help.
The mystery itself is a nice little puzzle, but the best thing about the story is Chet!
I've already read a couple of the other stories in this series, and continue to enjoy them. I'm looking forward to future books.
This fulfills a requirement of A to Z challenge author--Q.
Chet occasionally has a short attention span, and can be distracted by, well, almost anything. He is a dog, after all. But he cares about Bernie, and does his best to help.
The mystery itself is a nice little puzzle, but the best thing about the story is Chet!
I've already read a couple of the other stories in this series, and continue to enjoy them. I'm looking forward to future books.
This fulfills a requirement of A to Z challenge author--Q.
The Blonde Leading the Blonde by Jayne Ormerod review
The Blonde Leading the Blonde is a mystery set in Braddock's Beach, Ohio. The main character, Ellery Tinsdale, is summoned there for the reading of her aunt's will, an aunt she never knew about.
Ellery's father had never mentioned that Ellery has an Aunt Izzy, and never mentioned the town of Braddock's Beach, even though that is where he grew up. So when Ellery gets there, she is surprised to discover that her family had been the social elite of the town. Ellery is also informed that she is to inherit the family mansion, family money, and family social position.
She discovers one additional detail. She is also suspected of her aunt's murder.
She is taken under the wing of Samantha (Sam) Green, a friend of her aunt's. They decide to find out who murdered Aunt Izzy together. There is a lot of bickering back and forth between Sam and Ellery, especially concerning Ellery's position in the community and her lack of fashion style.
I enjoyed the book, although I thought Sam was a little pushy, and Ellery a little wimpy. If there is a sequel, I will probably read it.
This fulfills a requirement in the A to Z challenge author--O.
Ellery's father had never mentioned that Ellery has an Aunt Izzy, and never mentioned the town of Braddock's Beach, even though that is where he grew up. So when Ellery gets there, she is surprised to discover that her family had been the social elite of the town. Ellery is also informed that she is to inherit the family mansion, family money, and family social position.
She discovers one additional detail. She is also suspected of her aunt's murder.
She is taken under the wing of Samantha (Sam) Green, a friend of her aunt's. They decide to find out who murdered Aunt Izzy together. There is a lot of bickering back and forth between Sam and Ellery, especially concerning Ellery's position in the community and her lack of fashion style.
I enjoyed the book, although I thought Sam was a little pushy, and Ellery a little wimpy. If there is a sequel, I will probably read it.
This fulfills a requirement in the A to Z challenge author--O.
One For the Money by Janet Evanovich
Actually read this book in June, but spent most of the summer camping without any internet, so have to write my review now.
This is the first in the Stephanie Plum series. My daughter enjoys these books, and recommended that I read some.
There are several strange, funny and endearing characters in this book. Grandma Mazur is the one who cracks me up. She's a little eccentric, just what I want to be when I get older. Stephanie's mother, Helen, is always trying to set Stephanie up on dates. Stephanie's life-long friend, Eddie, who is married to Stephanie's cousin, and just happens to be a cop, is called upon quite often for assistance.
In One For the Money, Stephanie is out of work, runs out of money, and can't find a job. She "convinces" (or blackmails) her cousin Vinnie into hiring her as a bond hunter. Her first case is to find and apprehend Joe Morelli, a former cop who is trying to avoid a Murder One trial.
She ends up finding out that being a bounty hunter isn't as easy as she had hoped. There are a lot of funny happenings as Stephanie discovers what to do to become a better bounty hunter, and some danger. She learns a lot from a scary and experienced bounty hunter named Ranger.
I enjoyed this book, and will probably read the rest of the series--I've already started the second!
This fulfills a requirement in the A to Z Challenge for Author--E, and for Book Title--O
This is the first in the Stephanie Plum series. My daughter enjoys these books, and recommended that I read some.
There are several strange, funny and endearing characters in this book. Grandma Mazur is the one who cracks me up. She's a little eccentric, just what I want to be when I get older. Stephanie's mother, Helen, is always trying to set Stephanie up on dates. Stephanie's life-long friend, Eddie, who is married to Stephanie's cousin, and just happens to be a cop, is called upon quite often for assistance.
In One For the Money, Stephanie is out of work, runs out of money, and can't find a job. She "convinces" (or blackmails) her cousin Vinnie into hiring her as a bond hunter. Her first case is to find and apprehend Joe Morelli, a former cop who is trying to avoid a Murder One trial.
She ends up finding out that being a bounty hunter isn't as easy as she had hoped. There are a lot of funny happenings as Stephanie discovers what to do to become a better bounty hunter, and some danger. She learns a lot from a scary and experienced bounty hunter named Ranger.
I enjoyed this book, and will probably read the rest of the series--I've already started the second!
This fulfills a requirement in the A to Z Challenge for Author--E, and for Book Title--O
2013 What's in a Name Challenge Completed!
I joined the 2013 What's in a Name Challenge where you had to read books in 6 categories. The categories, and the books I read to fulfill the requirements, are listed below.
1. Up or Down--Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes. Review
2. In the Kitchen--Tin Foil by Jerusha Jones Review
3. Party or Celebration--Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson Review
4. Fire--Dead Heat by Richard S. Prather Review
5. Emotion--Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red Review
6. Lost or Found--Four Lost Ladies by Stuart Palmer Review
This was a wonderful, interesting challenge. I had a great time looking for books to complete the requirements! Thanks to Beth Fish Reads for the challenge.
1. Up or Down--Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes. Review
2. In the Kitchen--Tin Foil by Jerusha Jones Review
3. Party or Celebration--Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson Review
4. Fire--Dead Heat by Richard S. Prather Review
5. Emotion--Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red Review
6. Lost or Found--Four Lost Ladies by Stuart Palmer Review
This was a wonderful, interesting challenge. I had a great time looking for books to complete the requirements! Thanks to Beth Fish Reads for the challenge.
Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson
Murder of a Wedding Belle is one of a series set place in Scumble River, school psychologist Skye Denison's home town. Skye's cousin, Riley, comes back to Scumble River for her wedding to her millionaire fiance, and she insists that Skye be her maid of honor.
This means Skye becomes the assistant of Riley's wedding planner, Belle. Belle manages to irritate and annoy everyone she has to deal with, and ends up murdered.
Skye then becomes involved in solving the murder by assisting her boyfriend, Wally, who is the Chief of Police. She also ends up taking over the wedding planning duties, at the insistence of her family.
There is mystery, romance, and danger in this story. It also featured an unusual way to kill someone.
This is another cozy mystery series that I enjoy. It's a light mystery, entertaining for those times you just want to read something at the beach or at the campsite.
This fulfills requirement 3. Party or Celebration of What's in a Name Challenge.
This means Skye becomes the assistant of Riley's wedding planner, Belle. Belle manages to irritate and annoy everyone she has to deal with, and ends up murdered.
Skye then becomes involved in solving the murder by assisting her boyfriend, Wally, who is the Chief of Police. She also ends up taking over the wedding planning duties, at the insistence of her family.
There is mystery, romance, and danger in this story. It also featured an unusual way to kill someone.
This is another cozy mystery series that I enjoy. It's a light mystery, entertaining for those times you just want to read something at the beach or at the campsite.
This fulfills requirement 3. Party or Celebration of What's in a Name Challenge.
Dead Heat by Richard S. Prather review
Dead Heat was published in 1963, one of the many (I believe there were 40) Shell Scott mysteries. Shell Scott is one of my favorite private eyes. He does dumb things, and comments as he's doing them that he knows it is dumb, but does it anyway. I find the books filled with humor, but still filled with action. He likes the ladies--and is not politically correct. He has strong opinions, and follows through. When he takes a case, he does his best to solve it, and his best usually succeeds--eventually.
In this story, Shell is hired by Gabriel Rothstein, financial wizard and multi-millionaire, to investigate whether Ryder Tangier is actually innocent of embezzlement or not. Tangier had already been found guilty a month before in a court of law, but as he was sent off to prison he swore that his old friend and former board member, Matthew Wyndham, had set him up.
Rothstein had invested a great deal of money in Tangier and Wyndham's company, Universal Electronics, and had suffered a huge monetary loss as the business was based on the scientific inventions of Tangier. Rothstein hires Scott to prove Tangier was innocent, and get him out of prison and back making his scientific discoveries and inventions. To encourage Scott, his fee was 1000 shares of common stock in Universal Electronics. The actual value would depend on whether Scott could prove Tangier's innocence.
I really enjoyed this book, as I have all the other Shell Scott mysteries.
This fulfills the 4. Fire requirement of the What's in a Name Challenge
In this story, Shell is hired by Gabriel Rothstein, financial wizard and multi-millionaire, to investigate whether Ryder Tangier is actually innocent of embezzlement or not. Tangier had already been found guilty a month before in a court of law, but as he was sent off to prison he swore that his old friend and former board member, Matthew Wyndham, had set him up.
Rothstein had invested a great deal of money in Tangier and Wyndham's company, Universal Electronics, and had suffered a huge monetary loss as the business was based on the scientific inventions of Tangier. Rothstein hires Scott to prove Tangier was innocent, and get him out of prison and back making his scientific discoveries and inventions. To encourage Scott, his fee was 1000 shares of common stock in Universal Electronics. The actual value would depend on whether Scott could prove Tangier's innocence.
I really enjoyed this book, as I have all the other Shell Scott mysteries.
This fulfills the 4. Fire requirement of the What's in a Name Challenge
Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red by Harry Kemelman Review
This is a mystery involving Rabbi Small, living in the small town of Barnard's Crossing. The book was published in the early 1970s, and takes place during the Vietnam War.
Rabbi Small takes a sabbatical from his duties at the local synagogue to teach a course in Jewish philosophy at a nearby college. There is a protest there, and suddenly a bomb goes off. One of the professors is discovered in his office, dead.
Several people are suspected of the murder, including one of the other teachers, one of the younger members of Rabbi Small's congregation in Barnard's Crossing, and one of the older members of his congregation.
I enjoyed this book, and it seemed to reflect the times of the 1970s--or at least as I remember them.
This book fulfills requirement 5. Emotion in the What's in a Name Challenge.
Rabbi Small takes a sabbatical from his duties at the local synagogue to teach a course in Jewish philosophy at a nearby college. There is a protest there, and suddenly a bomb goes off. One of the professors is discovered in his office, dead.
Several people are suspected of the murder, including one of the other teachers, one of the younger members of Rabbi Small's congregation in Barnard's Crossing, and one of the older members of his congregation.
I enjoyed this book, and it seemed to reflect the times of the 1970s--or at least as I remember them.
This book fulfills requirement 5. Emotion in the What's in a Name Challenge.
Rock Bottom by Jerusha Jones review
This is the first in a series of e-books about Meredith Morehouse, curator of the slightly eclectic Imogene Museum. These are enjoyable reads, a little light entertainment for a summer's afternoon.
In this story, an artifact from one of her new displays--a chamber pot--is missing. She sets a trap to find the perpetrator. This minor mystery involves her in an amusing situation, which was unexpected.
She also has to cope with a much more important mystery, the disappearance of her student intern, Greg. Morehouse is determined to help find him. She not only joins the organized hunt for him, but also goes off on her own to look, which ends up causeing a great deal of trouble.
This is an interesting book, with humor, a little romance, and a light mystery. It is not great literature, but I wasn't looking for that. What I was looking for was a not too graphic (both sex and violence) mystery to entertain myself, and this fills that requirement. It was a good start to this mystery series and I've already read several of the other books.
In this story, an artifact from one of her new displays--a chamber pot--is missing. She sets a trap to find the perpetrator. This minor mystery involves her in an amusing situation, which was unexpected.
She also has to cope with a much more important mystery, the disappearance of her student intern, Greg. Morehouse is determined to help find him. She not only joins the organized hunt for him, but also goes off on her own to look, which ends up causeing a great deal of trouble.
This is an interesting book, with humor, a little romance, and a light mystery. It is not great literature, but I wasn't looking for that. What I was looking for was a not too graphic (both sex and violence) mystery to entertain myself, and this fills that requirement. It was a good start to this mystery series and I've already read several of the other books.
Tin Foil by Jerusha Jones review
This is the fourth in a series by Jerusha Jones about Meredith Morehouse, curator of a small town museum. There are some quirky friends, some romance, and some danger.
I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to ruin any of the earlier books in the series by telling too much about this one. However, there is a trial involved, an explosion, and some romance. Oh, and a dog.
This is one of those series where you don't want to put it down once you start reading it, and can't wait for the next one to come out. I really enjoyed this book , and the others in the series. I'm looking forward to future books.
This book fulfills the requirement of something in the kitchen for the What's in a Name Challenge.
It also fulfills the letter J for the A to Z Challenge, authors.
I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to ruin any of the earlier books in the series by telling too much about this one. However, there is a trial involved, an explosion, and some romance. Oh, and a dog.
This is one of those series where you don't want to put it down once you start reading it, and can't wait for the next one to come out. I really enjoyed this book , and the others in the series. I'm looking forward to future books.
This book fulfills the requirement of something in the kitchen for the What's in a Name Challenge.
It also fulfills the letter J for the A to Z Challenge, authors.
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