The Case of the Howling Dog by Erle Stanley Gardner

by Carol6 Comments
The Case of the Howling Dog by Erle Stanley Garnder First, an admission. I never watched the Perry Mason TV series. I know who he was and the general idea of the shows, but this book is my first true meeting with Perry Mason, and I have to say I'm impressed. As a lawyer, he's all for representing his client, even if his actions are sometimes skirting the edge of legal. Mason studied Drake stedily for several seconds, and then said, "were you going to tell me how to practice law?" "I might tell you," said Paul Drake, "how to keep out of jail. I don't know law, but I know thin ice when I see it." "A lawyer," said Perry Mason slowly, "who wouldn't skate on thin ice for a client ain't worth a damn." (pg. 99) The story starts with a client coming to Perry Mason's office to discuss a will and a complaint about a howling dog, but a seemingly simple case...
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Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson

by Carol10 Comments
Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a "medieval noir," but I do have a fondness for historical mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Now I know little to nothing about London in 1384, so I'm not going to comment on the historical accuracy. I will say that the setting felt real to me, was an integral part of the story. London is a dark, grimy, dangerous place, if you're not one of the upper class. And Crispin Guest is no longer one of the privileged few. He used to be a knight, but accused of treason he was stripped up everything and only saved from being killed by an old friend. Now, Crispin known as The Tracker, down on his luck and making whatever money he can by finding things for those willing to pay for his services. He is hired by a wealthy merchant for a job that should be quick and...
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A Medieval Mystery

by Carol13 Comments
Now wide-eyed and fully awake, Crispin measured his predicament. Dead of night, floating in the Thames, and bound. (pg. 96, Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson) I'm about halfway through this mystery and really enjoying it. It's a dark, gritty version of 14th century England, not romanticized. I can't really say if it's historically accurate, but it's very readable. Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. The rules are easy and I only cheated a little. Grab your current read, open to a random page, and give us two teaser sentences. Remember, no spoilers. I borrowed my copy from the library and the above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon associate....
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Death Qualified by Kate Wilhelm

by Carol10 Comments
Death Qualified by Kate Wilhelm I listened to the audio version of this, read by Anna Fields.  I chose it because I had enjoyed one of Wilhelm's standalones The Deepest Water and wanted to give this series a shot. I was not disappointed, at the same time it wasn't what I expected. Five years ago Barbara Holloway gave up practicing law, disillusioned with a profession that put politics before justice. Then she receives a phone call from her father, with a simple message: "I need you." Her father, a lawyer himself, has been asked by a neighbor Nell Kendricks to defend her. Nell is accused of killing her husband Lucas, who she hadn't seen for seven years, until the day he arrives at the edge of her property and is shot, instantly killed. Despite her vow, Barbara finds herself drawn to the case. It's not a simple courtroom drama though. It's a mystery, who actually killed Lucas and why. It...
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Heat Wave by Richard Castle

by Carol9 Comments
Heat Wave by Richard Castle I enjoyed this book, but then again I've enjoyed the few episodes of Castle I've seen. The "author" is actually a character on that show and the book is pretty much just a reflection of the show, which makes sense. It's the book the character writes based on his time spent with the NYPD. It's a great little mystery. A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk and homicide detective Nikki Heat is determined to solve the case. Unfortunately, thanks to the commissioner, she is stuck with journalist Jameson Rook, who is riding along with her as research for an article he's working on. He's arrogant and meddling and refuses to do what she tells him, like stay out of the road. Nevertheless, as suspects come up with alibis and the body count rises, Heat sifts through the clues, showing police work is far from glamorous. I of course didn't figure out...
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A Horse Named Dragon created by Gertrude Chandler Warner

by Carol3 Comments
A Horse Named Dragon created by Gertrude Chandler Warner (Suggested grades: 3-6) I have to say this is one of my favorite Boxcar Children Mysteries that Amber (10) and I have read together. The four Alden children are spending a week at the Dare to Dream Ranch while their grandfather is away on business. The Aldens have gone riding at the ranch many times and know the place and the owner, Cookie, well. But horses start disappearing, including Jessie Alden's favorite Dragon, and the kids are determined to find out what's going on. There are plenty of clues sprinkled throughout the story, clues that kids can catch and can put together to solve the mystery before the Aldens. And the horses are definitely being stolen, it's not some innocent misunderstanding. This was actually a little more exciting than some of the Boxcar books. There were several possible suspects and a point where the children actually were in a bit of true danger. I think...
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