So one of my favourite authors, Charlaine Harris has this little blog feature of her website where she just list what she has been reading and a little bit about each book. I’ve found it a great way to discover new authors (and good thing too because I was running out of new Charlaine Harris books to read!). So, I thought I would start a similar thing here, just to pass on the books I enjoy
May 2017
Rather be the Devil by Ian Rankin
One Virgin too Many by Lindsey Davis
The Ruby in her Naval by Barry Unsworth
Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance
We spent the first part of the month up in Edinburgh and I’m the sort of person who loves to read books set in the place I’m travelling to. When we visit Edinburgh, I am of course, spoiled for choice, and I have lots of different authors who make Auld Reekie an integral part of their novels. But this time I went with the latest in Ian Rankin’s Rebus/Fox books. I’ve enjoyed the Rebus books since I was an undergraduate, and appreciated them even more since getting to know the city they are mainly set in so well over the past decade, but I have to say O like them even more with the addition of Fox. Adding another man, who while seemingly not sharing any of Rebus’ vices, is still struggling at life adds and interesting dimension to the stories. This book also involves both the new and old gangsters that readers of the series are familiar with, and some interesting twists. If you haven’t read any of this series, you can just dip in, but it might be more satisfying to start a few books back.
One Virgin Too Many is part of Lindsey Davis’ ever witty and fun Falco detective stories (this one was published a few years ago). Set during the Flavian dynasty of Imperial Rome (a few years after the conquest of Jerusalem), Falco follows in the footsteps of the 1930s Private Investigator books set in San Francisco and LA (think Philip Marlow or Dashiel Hammet), but with the investigator overburdened by (happy) family and friends. It’s a fun juxtaposition and they are well researched. Every other book is set in Rome, with the following book taking place somewhere else in the Empire. This one is set in Rome and features religious cults, the frustration of housing renovations, and a missing little girl.
I have been meaning to read The Ruby in her Naval for just over a decade. It was recommended to me by my mum’s GP when he found out I was doing postgraduate work in Medieval History. It was a few years before I even came across any oth Barry Unsworth’s work (reading one set in Venice on our first visit in 2009), and I really liked his style. I had this book on my list of books to read, but I kept forgetting about it. Then my husband bought it for me for my birthday this year, and it was bumped up the list. I am so glad it was. It’s an intoxicating novel, exquisitely well written and researched. The Norman kingdom of Sicilly is one of those times and places that even as someone with a PhD in Medieval History, I didn’t know as much about as you might expect. This book seemed to transport me there. And there were knights, knaves, treason, art, and exotic dancers. I highly recommend it.
Claimed by Shadow is the second book in Karen Chance’s Cassie series about a woman raised by vampires who discovers she has more supernatural powers than she had ever realised. The creative world of vampires, werewolves, mages, and elves (and a whole lot of other things) that is introduced in the first book is expanded in this next installment. Like this first it is also set in Las Vegas (in a casino, a magical tattoo parlour, and in the land of the Elves). A good fun romp, with a bit of romance thrown in, too.
That’s all for May, but look out for more recommendations in June! So far I’m reading Bitten by Kelley Armstrong.
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