A Monday Off

Happy Fourth of July!

We have the day off today, but we already went to a fireworks show, so we’ll probably just stay home tonight.

A quick reminder, I’ve got two giveaways going on right now.

• Breaking up with God by Sarah Sentilles– US and Canada. Today is the last day to enter.
• A book of your choice – International. You have until the 14th to enter.

I got a few books in the mail this week.

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

(Won through the Agatha Christie Read-Along)

The murder of Colonel Protheroe — shot through the head — is a shock to everyone in St Mary Mead, though hardly an unpleasant one. Now even the vicar, who had declared that killing the detested Protheroe would be ‘doing the world at large a favour,’ is a suspect — the Colonel has been dispatched in the clergyman’s study, no less. But the picturesque English village of St Mary Mead is overpopulated with suspects. There is of course the faithless Mrs Protheroe; and there is of course her young lover — an artist, to boot.

Perhaps more surprising than the revelation of the murderer is the detective who will crack the case: ‘a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner.’ Miss Jane Marple has arrived on the scene, and crime literature’s private men’s club of great detectives will never be the same.

A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl

(From Pump Up Your Book promotions for an up-coming blog tour)

Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style. The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn’t have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam’s personal friend. Jenkins’ abilities are attacked when Lovejoy’s influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators. Feeling like “a pork chop at a bar mitzvah” in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn’t kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture. In true Jenkins style, Sam turns common police practice on its ear to insure an innocent man doesn’t fall prey to an imperfect system and the guilty party receives appropriate justice.

For the Defense by Kate Wilhelm

(from PaperbackSwap)

When congressman Harry Knecht is found murdered, Teddy Wendover stands accused, because the senator had been responsible for the field trip that had left Teddy severely retarded, and defense attorney Barbara Holloway must uncover the deep-rooted secrets in order to find the truth.

Mailbox Monday is taking a blog tour. This month’s host is Gwendolyn of A Sea of Books. Head over there to see what goodies others got in their boxes and to share your own loot.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Here’s my report.

Last week’s reviews:

• “Paul Bunyan”
• Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
• 4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie
• “Trail of the Lonesome Stickpin” by Camille LaGuire

Other posts:

• Vacation photos
• “Waiting on Mr. Aaron Baker” (original flash fiction)

Finished Last Week:

• Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
• A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie

Currently Reading (still):

• The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
• Empire Falls by Richard Russo

Listening to:

• Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith

What have you been reading?