Audiobook – Page 26 – Carol's Notebook

Wine for Normal People by Elizabeth Schneider

March 28, 2022March 28, 2022 by Carol7 Comments

Wine for Normal People is such a good book. I enjoy wine — well, some wines — but know very little about it. Wine is complicated, from the color, to the region in which it's grown, to the correct pairing with food, and the temperature at which it's served. I tend to stick with what I know I'll like, but this book has given me a bit of confidence to pick some less safe options. The book is interesting and conversational. We learn how to taste wine, how it's made, how both the winemaker and where the grapes are grown affect that taste. We get a quick tour of wines in both the Old World and New World. The author also gives advice on pairing wine and food, not a list to memorize, but characteristics to take into account. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author, who also has a podcast by the same name. It felt like a friend...

The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett

March 24, 2022March 23, 2022 by Carol2 Comments

I thoroughly enjoyed The Windsor Knot. A handsome Russian pianist is found in a compromising position the morning after a “dine and sleep” event at Windsor Castle with a whole host of guests. It's a bit like a country house murder, but bigger. We have the guests, all of whom, are potential suspects; the staff, one of whom MI5 is convinced must be a Russian spy; and people who are attending an economics meeting. That's a lot of people to keep track of, by the way. The queen disagrees with MI5, the murder is not typical of the Russians. She's also protective of her staff and her home. I like how it's set up. The Queen is the driving force behind solving the mystery. She looks at the details and the picture and puts it all together, but her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie, does most of the actual investigating, tramping around asking questions, accidentally putting herself in danger. I loved...

A Distant Voice by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards

March 15, 2022March 15, 2022 by CarolNo Comments

I've listened to all of the Mydworth mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed A Distant Voice. It is well-written and fast-paced. I like Kat and Harry. They make a good pair and are both more than competent. We know Bellamy Smythe is a fraud. Alice Wetherby is his target, but the question is why. She clearly has no money. Kat and Harry have been asked by a friend to make sure Smythe isn't out to defraud Alice. Of course, he is but proving it is another matter. They don’t just want Bellamy, either, they want to know how he is getting his information about the townspeople. How, why, and who all need answers. It's an entertaining book. It takes a bit of research, some questioning, and a minor breaking and entering, for Harry and Kat to find the answers. There's a bit of danger involved, as always, but nothing our couple can't handle. ...

We Were Kings by Court Stevens

March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 by CarolNo Comments

We Were Kings is one of those stories that you just want to keep listening to, even if you should be doing something else. With the passage of the accelerated death penalty, time is running out for Frankie, convicted of murdering her best friend Cora King 20 years ago. There was little evidence then and no new clues have surfaced since. Frankie’s other best friend Beth insists she’s innocent. Beth's daughter Nyla wants to know the truth, so heads back to the island where it all happened, where her mom grew up. Nyla is a good character, determined and caring. I liked her friendship with Sam and her relationship with her mom. Some of the other characters were one-dimensional, but quite honestly that worked for the story. We don't need everyone to be fully fleshed out. From Nyla's point of view, all of them are suspicious and capable of murder and/or attempting to intimidate her — that's the...

Putin’s People by Catherine Belton

March 8, 2022March 23, 2022 by Carol6 Comments

Putin's People is a clearly well-researched, possibly slightly biased, history of Putin, the KGB, and Russia from the fall of the Soviet Union to a couple of years ago. This was obviously published before the current war, but you can still see it coming. Honestly, the war is why I picked it up. I don't read much history or politics or economics, but then something happens and I wish I had more background to draw on. I am probably not the best audience for this book. There are tons and tons of people, places, companies, very few of which I'm familiar with. It's a dense book and I won't remember many of the details, but it's also well laid out and at times almost reads like a thriller. The Russia of today isn’t much different from the Russia before 1991 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Not only are the viewpoints, world views, and goals for the most part...

Secrets on the Côte d’Azur by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards

February 24, 2022February 24, 2022 by Carol2 Comments

Yep, it's another one of the Mydworth mysteries. Secrets on the Côte d'Azur might be my favorite so far. Harry and Kat are on a work/pleasure trip to the French Riviera. Harry has to do a bit of government work and then they can enjoy themselves. Until Aunt Lavinia introduces them to a friend in need of help. Percy Porter, an English pickle baron, is being blackmailed over his relationship with a younger French cabaret singer. The mystery is good. Harry and Kat do a lot asking questions and tailing people. I appreciated the twist in the whodunnit. The characters in this one were great. Harry and Kat are their usual charming selves, but we meet some new people who are entertaining and add a lot to the story. ...