Category: Book Reviews

The Liturgical Mysteries by Mark Schweizer

The 1st Book in Mark Schweizer’s Liturgical Mystery series is The Alto Wore Tweed. This fun, quirky series is about a small town police chief, Kayden Konig, who doubles as the local church organist and choir master. Hayden has also managed to purchase Raymond Chandler’s ancient typewriter and – in between the sleuthing and musical episodes …

Peculiar Crimes Unit Mysteries by Christopher Fowler

Book 1 of the Peculiar Crimes Unit series, also known as the Bryant and May mysteries, is Full Dark House. The quirkiness starts in book 1 and continues through the entire series. Almost makes you Google to see if there really is a Peculiar Crimes Unit in London, England. I like reading this series in order …

Do What You Love by Henri Junttila

Following Your Heart to a Life of Joy and Fulfillment In a compilation of 16 essays, Do What You Love by Henri Junttila leads the reader step-by-step to an understanding of what can happen when we begin to be aware of – and listen to – our inner wisdom. This is not a new concept for most of …

On Writing by Stephen King

Stephen King on the Art, Craft and Business of Writing On Writing is the first Stephen King book I’ve ever read. It’s an excellent memoir of his life as a writer: what got him started, how he built his writing portfolio, and how his stories evolved, through vivid imagination and astute editing. But I’ve never read …

Crafting the Personal Essay

My book review of Dinty W. Moore’s Crafting the Personal Essay In my investigation of “alternative” styles of writing, including everything “flash,” I came across a book edited by Dinty W. Moore called The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Nonfiction. I was impressed with Moore’s introduction to that publication, so I  bought Crafting the Personal Essay, which …

It All Changed in an Instant

My Review of It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure I’m a (pre) baby-boomer and, last spring as I approached my 69th birthday, I got a little nostalgic and started looking up books on memoir writing. Not that I wanted to write an actual book about my life story, …

The Moment – Life-Changing Stories

The Moment is about life-changing stories… of 125 writers and artists… and me. Do you recall “the moment” in your past when something so significant happened that it was literally life-changing? If so, you’ll enjoy the 125 stories in The Moment, a book of “wild, poignant, life-changing stories from 125 writers and artists famous and obscure.” In …

Charlie Muffin Mysteries in Order

Here are the Charlie Muffin mysteries by Brian Freemantle listed in order. If you like British espionage books, I think you’ll enjoy the Charlie Muffin mysteries by Brian Freemantle. Many reviewers call Brian Freemantle one of the top espionage writers today… possibly one of the best of all time. Some say he’s on a par with …

Bangkok Mystery Series by John Burdett

John Burdett’s Bangkok Mystery Series – Featuring Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep   Sonchai Jitpleecheep is a police detective… a devout Buddhist and son of a Bangkok bar owner and an American G.I. In fact, Sonchai is regarded by all – including his fellow police officers – as the only honest policeman in Bangkok. Even …

Chief Inspector Gamache Novels in Order

Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache novels (Three Pines Mysteries) are best read in order This is one of my all-time favorite mystery series and a heartfelt entry on my Uncommonly Good Mysteries list. If you haven’t tried the Three Pines/Chief Inspector Armand Gamache detective fiction series yet, you’re in for a treat. The characters become old friends and …