2024

A Larry Macklin Mystery #16

To say I am enjoying this series is an understatement. The usual cast of characters all make a return in this installment, including the menagerie of pets. As always reading time well spent.

This is a fairly complicated tale as Larry's dad the Sheriff Ted Macklin is attacked and left for dead by the side of the road. Pete and Julio are assigned to the case, leaving Larry on the side lines. In between hospital visits he begins to look into a series of high end auto thefts. The department is further rocked by a discovery that seems to close a five year old missing person case--and oh yes there is a winter storm brewing in Northern Florida.

Larry Macklin Mystery #15

This book is pulling a double shift--as it is serving as my read for two categories: October as well as Autumn. While I had "October" selections sitting in my TBR stack--I just couldn't get motivated to read any of them--so they are waiting for next year. I feel as this outing with Larry and the gang takes place entirely in the month of October--this double shift is totally justified.

 Furthermore this murder mystery revolves around a haunted house, a ghost from a previous unsolved murder, and a locked house murder--all the makings for a perfect Halloween read. As always neither Mr. Howe nor Deputy Macklin dissappoints. Looking forward to some "Winter Chills".

Always a delight to spend some time with Larry and the gang. This one was a little "out there" but apparently greed can make people more than a little murderous.

As the New Year of 2018 approached, I picked up an old used book, "A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy" and I thought wouldn't it be fun to read a book for each season. I promptly went out and found books for spring, summer, and autumn, a particular talent of mine is finding and buying books.

That thought became a habit and I found myself doing category arcs of books with titles themed around birds, body parts, weather conditions...and by that time I was hooked on reading this way...and the seeds for this website were sown.

Here in 2022 I find myself drawn to taking another round of the Seasons...hoping to make this an annual category.

 I picked up this book because I love Maeve Binchy and hadn’t read any of her books in about 20 years. I have a thing for English writers--I have a thing for all things English. But here's the weird thing-- while Im reading a book like this I fall in love with the idea of scrubbed pine tables and carbolic acid cleaners, gardening in the rain, puttering around in old cars and old clothes the older the better. Cleaning and scrubbing and order. A hard core work ethic.

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2022

A book I wanted to like way more than I actually did, because I myself identify totally with the concept of wintering and in these past few years I think a lot of others feel the same. If I am judging this correctly...this book was written while the author was have a dark moment of the soul and I think it shows in the choppiness of the writing. She starts down many pathways and then diverts away never quite giving resolution or a finish to any of the storylines she starts...

The cold depths of Sweden in 1717, blizzards, murders, evil priests, wolves, and a meddling newcomer make for a frigid read best done curled up in a blanket with a cup of something warm by your side. No spoilers but I am glad that the ending is as gray as the subject matter.

This novel follows a young Viennese medical student to the Eastern front during the winter of WWI in 1914. Even though he has minimal experience (ok basically none) there is already a severe shortage of trained medical personnel. He becomes the single doctor in a freezing, partially destroyed and deserted church that is serving as a field hospital. One nurse and a few orderlies. 

This book is one of the best books that I have read this year- a fantastic depiction of the ravages andthe travesties that was WWI. I will put this on my forever shelf and no doubt read it again. First though I am sharing it with friends. I will definitely read more from this author.

Larry Macklin #13

I got used to reading about Larry and the gang once a month for the last year. I miss him now that the series continues as a seasonal event--so only four outings this year. Then we move on to the holidays. I really like this series and now Larry and Cara finally get married. Hope they enjoy their honeymoon--and that Larry doesn't get roped into a case.

A very good read but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read the prior book (Winter Cottage) but that being said it was easy enough to read as a stand alone. It had a lot that I love, a multi generational story that sprang back and forth in time, house restoration, and the epistolatory style (this time in the form of a stash of old hidden letters). If I remember next winter--Winter Cottage here I come.