Without any ado, the books of March.
Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese. You may have inferred that I generally am a fast reader. This book took nice chunk of time to finish. It straddled the last week of February into the beginning of March. It’s a big thinky book, yes, but also I didn’t want to rush. I even found myself covering the page below the paragraph I was on with my hand, so I would really focus on the sentences in front of me and not rush through to find out what happens. It’s so pleasurable when a beautifully written story is also just one heck of a story. What a treasure.
Unspeakable Acts: True Tales of Crime, Murder, Deceit, and Obsession by Sarah Weinman. Non-fiction for a change, this is a collection of previously published articles about true crime. Reading these articles together through the lens of the editor’s introduction provides a wide-ranging survey of the modern true-crime writing genre – one that’s both appreciation and critique.
A Killer in King’s Cove by Iona Whishaw. This above-par cosy mystery follows a former WWII British intelligence officer as she starts a new life for herself in the middle of British Columbia. It hit the spot just right – so much so that I immediately bought and read the sequel once I finished this one.
Death in a Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw. The sequel was just as enjoyable.
Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon. Set in 1970s North Dakota where racism and casual discrimination is part of the environment, this novel follows the smart, tough main character, Cash Blackbear, and her one real friend, the local Sheriff, as they work to solve the murder of a native man. I want to read more of these two characters.
Beachfront Bakery: A Killer Cupcake by Fiona Grace. A competently written terribly unoriginal book. It’s not good, but at least the grammar was fine.
Tempting Taste by Sara Whitney. Good unchallenging sexy fun.
Palm Beach, Finland by Antti Tuomainen. Not your typical Nordic noir mystery, that’s for sure. Oh, it’s noir alright, but also campy comedy. It’s a change of pace from the last novel you read – no matter what that last novel happened to be!
