The heat of the summer is upon us and I returned to a tradition that I instituted when my children were little…a weekly excursion to the downtown library. There is nothing more satisfying than returning home with a stack full of new books to explore. Chores are left undone and the bedside light stays on a little later as I indulge myself. There is nothing quite so satisfying! So here are some of my latest finds and I hope they inspire you to make the journey to your local library and load up on mystery and fantasy this month.
In the mystery category, William J. Mann has done a marvelous job recreating Hollywood at the beginning of the film industry (1920’s). Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood takes place when the movie industry was just beginning to deal with the threat of censorship. The murder of a well-respected Hollywood resident, William Desmond Taylor, brings the decadent lifestyle of the stars and producers into clear focus. Mann provides wonderful insight not only into the murder but also explores the men who are responsible for the beginning of the film industry. He has done an incredible amount of work to give a possible and profitable conclusion to this real life murder.
A Certain Age by Beatiz Williams takes you to the same time period…the 1920s, but on the other side of the United States. Mrs. Theresa Marshall of Fifth Avenue and South Hampton, Long Island is having an affair with The Boy (Captain Octavian Rofrano). A hero of the Great War, The Boy caught the eye of Theresa while summering in the Hamptons. Theresa’s husband, Sylvo, keeps himself busy with his mistresses, leaving Theresa to amuse herself. For those of you familiar with opera, this is a re-interpretation of Richard Strauss’ comic opera, Der Rosenkavalier, set in the Jazz Age. It is very well written and the mystery is kept taut until the end.
Another mystery which carries over the operatic theme, Sent to the Devil by Laura Lebow takes place in Vienna, Austria in 1788. Dupont, who writes librettos for Mozart’s operas, used to be a priest but when his friend, Father Alois, is murdered, Dupont is pulled into the investigation against his will. Memorable characters that you will recognize from history populate this enthralling novel. Vivid descriptions of Vienna…the parks, the coffee houses and the palaces make this a perfect summer read if you want to be taken on a journey to Europe.
There are several lovely fantasy novels out currently and I always enjoy this genre in the summer so if you have never delved into fantasy before, now is a good opportunity.
The House of Shattered Wings takes place in France sometime after the war between the Houses of Mortals and Fallen Angels. These houses are now vying for control over the once beautiful Paris. There is a dark evil lurking in the shadows, killing mortals and the fallen equally. Filled with magic and mystery, this novel by Aliette de Bodard reminded me a little of a Harry Potter for adults.
Erick Setiawan created a mystical world in Of Bees and Mist, where family secrets chain children to past mistakes. Meridia grows up in a cold (very literally cold) home which is haunted by a fog that comes and goes every evening. When she falls in love with Daniel, marries him and moves into his family home, she believes she has escaped the hard cold existence of her youth. Unfortunately she finds herself in another web constructed by her mother-in-law. This novel is about three generations of woman who can weave spells of magic to control their world, sometimes with devastating effects.
The Fourline Trilogy begins with The Gateway to Fourline. It is actually considered young adult fantasy but I loved it…maybe that says something about me. Author Pam Brondos has done a wonderful job creating a world that is alluring, frightening and addicting. Natalie Barnes is struggling to keep her grades up and come up with a way to pay school fees without causing her family to lose their farm. She comes into contact with some strange characters who offer her a way to solve all of her problems and suddenly she is pulled into an intrigue that encompasses two worlds. She must learn to fight and defend herself and her new friends in a world with completely different rules. I enjoyed the first book so much I got the other two in the series and had them read within the week.
So if you are in the mood for literary indulgence go take a trip to the library and grab a selection of titles to tempt you into some late night reading.