The one good thing about traveling–aside from getting there!–is the opportunity for reading. LONG HOURS in which there is nothing much to do but read. So, here are the four books I read over my recent travels.
The Unfortunate Englishman, by John Lawton
This book is a sequel to Then We Take Berlin, an excellent book about Berlin in the 50’s, and a clever but devious British M16 agent. He teams up with an American and a Russian to undertake some truly awe-inspiring black market deals. There is also the story of his German girlfriend, and her terrible war time experiences. Fascinating detail, interesting people. The Unfortunate Englishman follows the career of a fellow who should never have been admitted to the spy world, but was because of being an engineer in a particular field. AND he is eventually imprisoned, and in time freed by the devious spy of the previous book–and the wall comes down eventually! The terrible face of Berlin is splendidly presented to us, sordid and ruined, but so loved by Berliners.
A Line to Kill: A Novel, by Anthony Horowitz
I am not really a fan of Mr. Horowitz, but he can certainly set up a plot as tight as a drum, with a splendid turn of events at the end to surprise us all. The first person narrator is the author himself, and he is not a likeable man. He takes his place in the plot, the not very bright Watson to the brilliant but passionate ex-detective Hawthorne. There is a book festival on a little island, there is a murder, there are plenty of suspects. Fun but perhaps not completely engaging.
The Bullet That Missed: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery by Richard Osman
Another charming story set in the gilded old age home, with the characters we know and love from previous stories. The pace is sprightly, the characters loveable, and the two police officers have both found love–their happiness lifts everyone’s spirits, including the reader’s of course. The fact that our protagonists are all very aged means that sorrow and death are always near–particularly to Elizabeth Best, the clever woman whose darling husband is gradually being consumed by dementia–that terrible nightmare we all fear. But still, he manages to solve one of the thorny problems faced by the group, and there are many happy moments with tea and biscuits for all amidst the scenes of slaughter and kidnapping. And there is also an elaborate glass swimming pool suspended high overhead in one of the apartment buildings for wealthy Londoners. This sparkling toy actually exists, by the way.
The Tumbling Girl, by Bridget Walsh
I saw an approving review of this book in the WSJ and snapped it up for my Kindle ($4.99!) It is an engaging story of a Victorian music hall entertainer whose dear friend is murdered and who is determined to bring the murderer to justice. In pursuing this aim she meets and engages the aid of a private detective who is an interesting self made man, educated and sweet natured, a pleasant and clever man. Also, handsome and strong, always a good feature in a hero. He and the young woman grow to appreciate and love each other in the course of their sleuthing, and there is much excellent detail of life in London in the 1800’s. Also some fairly HORRIBLE murders and nastiness. PLUS a really stunning last minute discovery which obviously leads to a sequel. On my to-read list, I can tell you!
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