Review: The Lights Go Out in Lychford

The Lights Go Out in Lychford by Paul Cornell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Witches of Lychford series. Read them in order. They are all very short. It will be worth your time to start from the beginning.

While the book is short, a novella really, it packs a wallop. One of the main characters has dementia. That's not a spoiler because the book opens in her mind. Page one, dementia. If you've known someone with dementia, this is going to feel real. I certainly cursed Paul Cornell for bringing back all those memories and feelings. Then I read something he wrote recently that said this is based on his experience with his mother's dementia. I forgive you, Paul. It is an amazing tribute.

The rest of the story will make you be careful what you wish for. Now get reading....

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Review: Ghost Song

Ghost Song by Mark L'estrange
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very traditional ghost/haunted house story. An elderly man goes to the pub and hears a song that has haunted his life which prompts him to finally tell his story. It's told in the way you would if people were sitting around telling ghost stories. There are spooky bits and nothing very gory.

There was one plot inconsistency that made me go "wait....that can't be right," but it doesn't impact the ghost story. I'm not even sure other people will notice.


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Review: Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany

Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany by Jane Mount
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book about books and bookish things. You don't have to read it all at once. You don't even have to read it in order. Skip to the bits that interest you. I would even say it would make a great coffee table book. I read the Kindle version, but I think the physical version would be much better so that you can appreciate all the drawings. I liked the trivia that was scattered throughout. I also liked seeing how many of the books mentioned are ones I've read. Definitely many old favorites but also a chance to learn about some new ones.

An apology to Jane Mount. When I was looking for a background to my book blog, I came across an illustrated stack of books that perfectly fit the type of books I like to read, but it had no credit. I decided to use it. Now, I know it was a Jane Mount illustration. I've added a credit now.

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Review: Suspect in High Heels

Suspect in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 10th book in the High Heels Mysteries series. You can read it without having read the previous ones. However, I suggest reading them all. There is also some crossover with Gemma Halliday's Hollywood Headlines series.

It is a fun series, and I'm not even that into fashion or shoes. The main character, Maddie Springer, and her family and friends are all likeable even if some of them are a bit kooky. This particular book deals with the Antiques Roadshow type crowd and spoiler alert: Maddie isn't a suspect! Someone she cares about is and you know the police could always use some extra help. Antics ensue.

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Review: The Lake of Learning

The Lake of Learning by Steve Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book three in the Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure series and a spin-off of the Cotton Malone series. As with the first two, this is a fairly short story. I recommend reading the series in order, but you don't have to. This one can stand on its own.

I think this has been my favorite so far. I love a story about Cathars, and there is so much of their history and beliefs packed into this novella. Then you add a mysterious book with a puzzle and a new language. I'm all in.

If you are looking for a female-led adventure but not sure you want to invest in a lengthy series, check these out.

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Review: Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You

Your Favorite Band Cannot Save You by Scotto Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you like obscure music, horror, or Grady Hendrix, I highly recommend picking up this novella. I read it in one day and could barely put it down. This is a really fun read.

A completely unknown band starts releasing daily a revolutionary track for their 10 track album. The music affects people in unexpected ways. A music blogger is the first to discover it and makes it his goal to get the story behind this band. He gets the story alright. It was more than he bargained for.

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Review: No Flight Without the Shatter

No Flight Without the Shatter by Brooke Bolander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this short story from Tor.com. If you sign up for their newsletter, you sometimes get free books. Well worth it if you like science fiction or fantasy.

This is a beautiful story. With only 32 pages, it still made me cry. In a future where humans have destroyed the world with their nonsense, a little girl is raised by a collective of women who share characteristics with many animals we know. They tell their stories. I was so moved. If you worry about the future of our world, and particularly the wildlife in it, this story will speak to you too.

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Review: The Shell Collector

The Shell Collector by Hugh Howey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book takes place in probably the not-so-distant future when the oceans have swallowed up shorelines and shells are nearly nonexistent. The scariest part is this could be a totally true story. The mother of the main character was from Antigua and there's talk about the islands. Fun for me since I'm working among them now. There is a bit of mystery and thriller as we try to find out what the rich oil man is up to. The journey to figure out the answer takes us to the very depths of the ocean.

For a short book, the descriptions are still very rich. I felt I could see what he was describing. I don't want to give away any spoilers but if you know how I feel about romance in a book, you'll know what sort of bugged me. Still, I couldn't find it in my heart to give it anything but five stars.

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Review: The Pied Piper

The Pied Piper by Harold Schechter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is part of the Amazon Original Stories, Bloodlands Collection. It is a standalone, short true crime retelling.

In this case, Charlie Schmid went on to inspire a character in a Joyce Carol Oates story. Charlie also has some similarities to that other famous Charlie....Manson. He seemed to have the charisma to convince other people to help him carry out his sick plans.

If you are a fan of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" or "Helter Skelter," you may like this as well.

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Review: Rampage

Rampage by Harold Schechter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another short true crime story in the Amazon Original Stories, Bloodlands Collection.

This one tells the origins of mass murder in America. A man wakes up one day and kills 13 people before going back to bed. The author's retelling of what happened that day was chilling.

All of these stories are well-researched, but I think this way my favorite of the collection. If you like true crime, this one is well done. I like that you get the history and the impact on current society in one quick read.

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Review: Annabel Scheme

Annabel Scheme by Robin Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a weird little book full of surprises. Robin Sloan is a master of cramming a bunch of stuff into a very short, but fulfilling story. I say fulfilling even though it left me hoping this is the start of a series. Also, what is a banana box?

Annabel Scheme isn't what you would expect, and the cover of the book gives no real indication of what's inside. If you like science fiction, mysteries, thrillers, ghost stories, video games, dystopian fiction, robots, or San Francisco, I recommend reading this book. If someone will make the World of Jesus game, I will play it.

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