The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain

The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain

In 1866, Mark Twain was a travelling correspondent for the San Francisco Daily Alta California and he convince them in early 1967, to provide $1250 to pay his fare on the Quaker City tour of Europe and the Middle East. Throughout the five-month trip, Twain sent 51 letters to the Alta for which he was paid an addiationa $1200. The paper published between August 2, 1867 and January 8, 1868 under the running heading: "The Holy Land Excursion. Letter from 'Mark Twain.' Special Travelling Correspondent of the Alta." These letters, together with seven printed in two New York papers, became the basis for Innocents Abroad, written during the first half of 1868. First, you have to see the route this trip took. It looks like such an amazing trip and hits most of the spots I would love to see one day. I don't think I would want to visit with Twain though. While he is funny in a snarky way and full of historical tidbits, he's...
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Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Mistletoe, Maine, the setting of Twelve Slays of Christmas, is a wonderful little town, the perfect place for Holly to head home to after her wedding is called off. Her family and the town welcome her back with open arms and working at the family Christmas tree farm keeps her busy. In all reality, though she's not too heartbroken over her fiancé; he was a jerk anyway, and good riddance. Then she finds one of the townspeople dead at the farm, killed by one of the candy cane shaped markers. It throws her for a loop, which is understandable, and she feels the need to investigate, both to keep the people she loves out of suspicion and to find justice for the victim. Twelve Slays of Christmas is the first in the series and I think Holly will make a good lead character. She's curious and smart, prone to doing what she wants regardless of others telling her to stay out. I...
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The Dance of the Seagull by Andrea Camilleri

I'm not sure how many Montalbano mysteries I've listened to/read now. They start to run together a little. This one opens with a seagull dying on a beach. This scene comes back later as a kind of vision that helps Montalbano solve the case - which is odd and doesn't feel like it fits with the series. Also out of character is that Montalbano refers  to "that television series" and later the comment "Little surprise that Montalbano couldn't tell Camilleri how the story would end." I don't want my mysteries to be that aware of themselves as fiction, but maybe that's just me. Aside from that, the book was fine. It's been a little while since I finished listening to it and that part that I remember the best is how concerned Montalbano was with finding Fazio, how important it was. And once Fazio's found, keeping him safe becomes important. Montalbano forgets all about Livia, his long-time lover, coming in for a...
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A Voice in the Night by Andrea Camilleri

I've read/listened to several Montalbano mysteries. In A Voice in the Night we've got several of the series standards - corrupt politicians, police who are being pressured for certain results,  good food. Montalbano is a good cop, in that he's not in the mafia's pocket and is not afraid to go against the politicians. He doesn't always stick to the law, though. Both of the mysteries have their twists and turns. I especially liked how the young woman's murder was plotted, even though I felt bad for the boyfriend. As always, I find Salvo amusing and interesting. The title is perfect, it pulls from a pivotal part of the story, one that may not actually put Montalbano in the best light, but does highlight his need to find the real culprit, not just accept what "they" want. I'll definitely read more in the series, but they're not gripping enough to buy; I always borrow them from the library. They are consistent though -...
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