A Grave in the Woods by Martin Walker

A GRAVE IN THE WOODS by Martin Walker is the latest Bruno, Chief of Police mystery story set in the Dordogne, in the southwest of France.  And this novel contains familiar elements from the series: close-knit characters, emphasis on good food and the French countryside. In addition, it focuses on historical WWII events because the bodies involved in this mystery are an Italian naval officer and two young female soldiers, all apparently killed by the Resistance. A theme is certainly the horrors and inhumanity of war, especially as the women of Saint-Denis react to the deaths. Bruno calls upon a variety of contacts to smooth relations for a diplomatic ceremony and to help with a hacking campaign against the police network. A GRAVE IN THE WOODS received a starred review from Booklist, saying, “Bruno’s expansive character (he’s an archeology, cooking, and sports enthusiast) adds spice to this series.”

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES by Julie Leong is a cozy fantasy debut that was chosen for the LibraryReads November 2024 list. Its beautiful cover reflects the warmth and good cheer which radiates from this story. Tao, a young girl travelling on her own is the title character. As she moves from village to town, she shares small fortunes with others, afraid to fully exercise her ability to foresee the future because of a past tragedy. It is on the road that she meets Mash, a former soldier looking for his lost daughter; Silt, a reformed thief and friend to Mash; and Kina, an apprentice baker. Together this unlikely group forms a community of sorts and their subsequent – sometimes dangerous – adventures bind them tightly together. This is a wonderful story about friendship and (found) family. Here is a favorite quote: “Aye, our lives are short and shaped by circumstance, and maybe we can't control most of what's to come. But we can control how we feel. We can savor the sweetness of a blackberry scone, and the company of our friends, and the warmth of the summer wind at night, and be grateful for it.”

In its starred review, Library Journal said, THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES “is a delightful cozy fantasy that will appeal to fans of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne.” Enjoy!! Discussion questions are included.

The Memory Library by Kate Storey

THE MEMORY LIBRARY by Kate Storey is meant to be a feel good book about a mother, Sally, and daughter, Ella. Sally lives in Greenwich, London and her estranged daughter has lived for over 20 years in Australia. Ella, modeling on her father, is very work-focused and relies on husband Charlie to care for their house and 8-year-old daughter, Willow. When Sally has a fall and needs care, Ella reluctantly heads back to England where over the course of six weeks she learns to more fully appreciate her mother and the values of the people (neighbors, local shopkeepers, library patrons) who care for Sally. I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Jilly Bond and Imogen Wilde.  I found their voices to be quite soothing and able to vividly evoke Sally’s neighborhood environment as well as the emotions in the conversations with Ella. THE MEMORY LIBRARY seems to have garnered very positive reader response so I think there is a wide audience, especially amongst bibliophiles, but I found it dragged a bit and Ella was not at all a sympathetic character. She was extremely self-centered: “…she didn't like talking. If she was queen of the world, all personal problems would be resolved by leaving them alone and getting on with things. All talking did was allow other people to tell you what they thought you were doing wrong.” Although Ella clearly matured over the course of the story, it was difficult at times to think that she would have changed so dramatically in the relatively short time that she cared for Sally. As a former teacher, Sally modeled life lessons like “check your privilege and remember that who you are is more important than what you have.” It was fun to reflect on the many books referenced throughout the story (e.g., The Alchemist, Persuasion, We All Want Impossible Things, The Life of Pi) and gratifying to see that Ella ultimately realizes that “It was only when she discovered the books and the way Sally had continued her tradition [of gifting one with an inscription to Ella each year] that she'd fully appreciated how loved she was. Through rebuilding the library Ella had learned so much about her mother but also about herself.” 

Anna Maria's Blueprint Quilting by Anna Maria Parry

ANNA MARIA'S BLUEPRINT QUILTING is the fourth book by Anna Maria Parry, an artist, seamstress and fabric designer. The quilts are absolutely stunning and she offers 16 projects ranging from beginner through confident beginner to intermediate and advanced. The text is organized so as to “Explore Color, Pattern, and Technique” and separate sections deal with these, covering topics like composition, material choice, and necessary tools. Anna Maria offers four “blueprints:” Grand Central (square), Triptych; Kiss on the Lips (an “X” style) and Color Study (using gradations).  Each project (there are 4 for each blueprint) includes notes on color choice, fabric, and cutting as well as sewing and assembly. Both photographs and colorful diagrams of the quilts are included. This is a very comprehensive book, although the projects seem large (mostly full-size quilts) and complex for the most part. A true feast for the eyes (see images below). In its starred review, Publishers Weekly praised: “Parry’s sophisticated artistic sensibilities [which] set this apart from standard quilting manuals.” 

 
Just by chance I saw a show on PBS about The Violet Protest which involved a grassroots movement using handmade textile squares as a form of social action and to promote unity across political positions. The roughly 30 minute documentary is available online at this link and embedded below:

Meet the Dyslexia Club! by Margaret Rooke

MEET THE DYSLEXIA CLUB! by Margaret Rooke (Dyslexia is My SuperPower) features stories from children talking about their feelings and experiences with dyslexia as well as their special talents. Some examples include Jessica who plays football/soccer or Ajay who loves to bake cakes. These stories often touch on relationships at school and learning accommodations; each ends with a thought about how grown-ups can help (e.g., letting us do more of what we like best at school) and what the child does best (e.g., coding and solving puzzles). This would be an inspiring and very comforting book for elementary school students and even their parents and teachers. In addition to the stories, Rooke provides suggestions on where to go for help, and she also has checklists filled with many ideas for ways that grown-ups can help at home or at school. She defines several terms and provides links (many UK-based) to relevant websites (all new readers will enjoy Reading Rockets) and related books, including (for adults) The Dyslexia Advantage. Tim Stringer has provided colorful, cheerful illustrations which add to the charm of this text. MEET THE DYSLEXIA CLUB! Is a small book – only about 80 pages – but it is packed with useful information.

Good Reasonable People by Keith Payne

GOOD REASONABLE PEOPLE is the title of a recent text by Keith Payne, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He looks specifically at “The Psychology Behind America's Dangerous Divide,” something which many of us are all trying desperately to understand. In fact, Payne writes that “other people we thought we knew don't just disagree with us; They see the world in a deeply different way than we do.” In attempting to answer why that it so, he explores ideas around how people think about politics, what influences political worldviews, and how hard it is to communicate about all of this. He writes movingly that “my research suggests that our political tribes are primarily the result not of our inner essences, but of our circumstances” and that his text is about “understanding our own minds, our own circumstances, and our own blind spots as much as understanding those of other people.” Kirkus describes GOOD REASONABLE PEOPLE as “Compelling, eye-opening research that humanizes political discord and encourages understanding and compassion.” It has a hopeful, though somewhat academic, tone and notes comprise slightly less than fifteen percent of this thought-provoking book.

Grounds for Murder by Betty Ternier Daniels

GROUNDS FOR MURDER by Betty Ternier Daniels is a debut mystery in the Jeannie Wolfert-Lang series. I am grateful for the free preview copy from ECW Press, a Canadian Indie book publisher, which I received after attending a recent Booklist webinar. The main character, Jeannie, is adjusting to life as a sixty-year-old widow on her farm. Although she enjoys the gardening and company of her cat, Diesel, she is being encouraged to sell the farm by her two adult children and a very aggressive real estate agent named Monica. An accident involving Jeannie’s car results in Monica’s death and Monica's ex-husband and cop-on-leave named Derek arrives to investigate. Feelings spark between him and Jeannie who also manages to ignite some resentful emotions in her young tenants on a neighboring farm. Overall, GROUNDS FOR MURDER is light and fun and I will look forward to seeing the characters develop in future series entries. Audiobook also available.

As an aside, I learned while reading another newly published book (Murder on the Page) that a cat named Diesel features in several mystery books by Miranda James – and don’t forget feline Sneaky Pie Brown who writes about two cats, Pewter and Mrs. Murphy, with longtime co-author, Rita Mae Brown.