March Book Reviews

 

by Mary Saums

 

 

Just have a few good books to recommend today ...

 

 

THE SILENCE OF STONES by Jeri Westerson, the brand new installment in the Crispin Guest series. Yay!! I love these books.

In case you're new to this series, they're set in medieval London. Which is enough right there to make me snatch them up. Crispin was once a favored knight at court but lost all his status, money and estates. With nothing left and no one to help, he was forced to move to the Shambles, the rough side of the city.

He's slowly pulled himself up from near-starvation by taking on any job, no matter how unsavory or dangerous. The nature of jobs, usually involved in finding something or someone, led to a bit of notoriety and eventually the nickname "Tracker." Along the way, he also rescued an orphaned street urchin named Jack who now serves as his apprentice.

Crispin and Jack are amongst the throng crowded into Westminster Abbey. It's the Feast of the Holy Virgin's Nativity and everybody who's anybody is there as well, including King Richard. During the ceremony, there's a sudden "boom" and Crispin can see smoke rising above the area where he last saw the king. As the spooked worshippers scream and push their way out, Crispin and Jack move forward to see what has happened.

Loved this book. It could be read without having read the previous ones in the series, but you'd be missing out on all the enjoyment of seeing these characters grow over time. Great descriptions of London throughout that put the reader into the scene. 

 

 

 

WHEN FALCONS FALL by C.S Harris

Another historical series I love love LOVE! 

The year is 1813. Sebastian St.-Cyr, Viscount Devlin, and his wife and baby son, are usually at home in London. However, Sebastian wants to interview someone about a family matter, a very secret family matter .... (ahem, to those who've read previous books in the series, yes, THAT secret) .... and so he travels to Shropshire. While there, the brand new, and very young, justice of the peace asks for Sebastian's advice. It's the justice's first death investigation, that of a young woman found by a stream. An empty vial of laudanum is found next to her, as well as a cryptic note. The justice's advisors believe it's a suicide. Sebastian believes otherwise. 

So, because of the not-London location, I wasn't as enthralled with this one as I've been with all the others. But it did make me appreciate many elements that work so well in the previous books, mainly the super-strong characters of the couples' fathers, Lord Jarvis who is chief advisor to his cousin King George, and Earl Hendon, chancellor of the exchequer. London is so rich in diverse communities, interesting people. Political schemes. Pubs. :) A big difference from quiet countryside. But still an enjoyable read.

 

 

 

THE NEUROGENESIS DIET & LIFESTYLE: Upgrade Your Brain, Upgrade Your Life by Brant Cortright, Ph.D

 

I heard about this one on a Bulletproof Radio podcast this week. This is a terrific guide on how to keep yourself young and healthy at any age. Dr. Cortright explains recent experiments and breakthroughs that show we do not stop growing new brain cells early in life as scientists once believed. Along with new science, he gives strategies for diet, supplements, lifestyle changes in a clear and easy to understand way. 

 

 

Okay, so that's me. What have you been reading this month? Any new-to-you author discoveries?

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Mark]

Early this month, I read a couple of great books - Ripe for Murder by Carlene O'Neil and And Then There Were Nuns by Kylie Logan. Plus I enjoyed File M for Murder by Miranda James.

Right now, I'm reading Agatha Nominee Macdeath by Cindy Brown. I'm about 50 pages in, and I'm loving it.

[Susan Neace]

I just finished Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs. It is her latest in the series about Mercedes the VW mechanic who is a coyote shapeshifter. I loved it but I'd likely recommend a new reader start at the beginning with Moon Called

[Mary S.]

Thank you, Mark. I'm glad you mentioned the Agatha nominees. Gotta get going on those!

And Then There Were Nuns .... Love it!

[Mary S.]

Moon Called ... thank you for that, Susan. Definitely want to start with the first one in this series.

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

LOVED Macdeath.

Thank you for these wonderful suggestions!

[Elaine Viets]

Thank you, Mary, for more good reading. I just finished THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS by Chris Bohjalian. A beautifully written book set in WW2 Italy about a noble family that befriends the Germans to save their property -- and wind up destroying themselves.