Happy Halloween!!

 Some people really go all out!  These pictures are of one house at the end of our street!!!

Books 19-26

 Missing Justice by Alafair Burke

Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid is back at work after an attempt on her life and a promotion into the Major Crimes Unit. When the husband of Portland, Oregon, city judge Clarissa Easterbrook reports his wife missing and Samantha is called out on the case, she assumes her only job is to make the district attorney look good until the judge turns up. When the police discover evidence of foul play, however, Samantha finds herself unearthing secrets in Clarissa’s professional and private lives — secrets that not only Clarissa, but others, wanted to stay hidden.
The police department is committed to building a case against the man they believe is responsible, but Samantha continues to pursue an investigation into her own unanswered questions.
When her search for the truth leads her to corruption at the highest levels of the city’s power structure and the lingering personal tolls of a crime that occurred decades ago, Samantha realizes that her quest for justice could cost her not only her job but her life.
I didn't realize that this was the second book in the Samantha Kincaid series.  There were little snippets in this book that referred to the first book which explained a few things about Samantha. It was an enjoyable read although, at times, there was a little too much legal jargon.  It illustrates the struggle she faces to succeed in her new position, to be taken seriously in a male dominated office.  To stand up to her dad, her bosses and the police officers she works with.  It doesn't help her that, at times, she is pretty reckless. What starts out as a very cut and dried case turns out to be anything but!  

The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz

When Mikael Blomkvist needs to identify who died with his phone number in his pocket and whose last words spelled danger for important people, there's only one person who can help: Lisbeth Salander-the fierce, unstoppable girl with the dragon tattoo.  But Lisbeth has vanished.  She's sold her apartment in Stockholm.  She's gone dark.  No one knows where she is, and no one is aware that at long last she's got her primal enemy, her twin sister Camilla, squarely in her sights. In the end, it will be Blomkvist-in a moment of unimaginable self-sacrifice-who will make it possible for Lisbeth to face the most important battle of her life and, finally, to put her past to rest.

I guess it's unfair to compare the last books by David Lagercrantz to the books by Stieg Larsson. For me they just don't measure up to the first three, but if you are going to continue the Millenium series I feel they have to measure up.  Lisbeth is the main character in the books and her presence was very lacking in this book.  There was so much of the book dedicated to the Mount Everest expedition and not enough on Lisbeth.  I have read that this is the last book in the series and maybe it isn't.  We'll have to wait and see!!  

Dreamless by Jorgen Brekke

A promising young singer has been murdered, her body found in a forest clearing during a snowstorm.  Her corpse has been elaborately, gruesomely staged-her larynx cut out and an antique music box placed carefully atop her body.  The music box plays a mysterious lullaby that sounds familiar but that no one can quite place.  With the blizzard overtaking  the city, Chief Inspector Odd Singsaker of the Trondheim Police Department is called in to investigate. The snow has, alas, all but wiped out any clues that the crime scene might hold.

When another young girl, also known for her melodic singing voice, suddenly goes missing while out walking her dog.  Singsaker fears the worst.  In the course of the investigation, he uncovers a connection between both cases and a centuries-old balled called "The Golden Peace."  This obscure ballad, written by a mysterious composer in the seventeenth century, promises the deepest, sweetest sleep to the listener.

With his own personal life in turmoil, Singsaker must somehow find the connection between the victims, the killer, and the ancient lullaby.  Somewhere, buried in the history of the ballad and its composer, is the detail that might help Singsaker find both the latest missing girl before time runs out and the elusive killer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on this perfect lullaby.

This book tells two stories,  alternating between 1767 in Trondheim, Norway, and current day Trondheim, connected by an old lost ballad.  I didn't realize this is the second book  in a series when I read it but it stands on its own just fine.  The ending makes it quite obvious that there will be another book. It was quite gruesome in parts but gives a good idea what the murderer is wrestling with.  It was a good book and I wouldn't mind reading the next book.

The Cavendon Luck by Barbara Taylor Bradford

It is 1938 in England, and Miles and Cecily Ingham have led the family in bringing the Cavendon estate back from the brink of disaster.  But now, with the arrival of World War II, Cavendon Hall will face its biggest challenge yet. It is a challenge that will push the Inghams and Swanns to protect one another and the villagers, and reveal their true capacity for survival and rebirth.

This is the third and last book in a series.  I haven't read the first two but I don't think it really mattered, although it was difficult at times to sort out all the characters.  I found that the book was a lot of fluff about rich, beautiful people.  Given the subject matter I found it too idealistic and gave the impression that everything will be okay because we are Inghams and Swanns. Hardly realistic!!

The Real Katie Lavender by Erica James

At 30, Katie Lavender thinks she is better than most when it comes to dealing with life's surprises.  But when she gets a request to visit a solicitor, she's not expecting the dramatic turn her life is about to take.  There, she receives a letter from her deceased mother that changes everything she ever knew about herself.

I enjoyed this book. It was a very easy read and I read it very quickly. This is the story of a rich, disfunctional family that gets turned on its head when Katie arrives. Of course, it all turns out well in the end!!

Killing Me Softly by Bianca Sloane

On a bitterly cold January evening, Tracy Ellis went for a jog along Chicago’s snowy lakefront and disappeared. Her body was discovered days later, her beautiful face bashed in with a rock. Police determine her brutal death to be a mugging gone wrong and drop the matter into their cold case files.
Over a year later, Tracy’s sister, Sondra, still can’t come to grips with what happened. She throws herself into her work as a documentary filmmaker to try and forget the cruelty of her sister’s death. However, a chance encounter with a man from Tracy’s past rips the wound open and sends Sondra on a desperate search for answers about the secrets from her sister’s life that may have led to her death.
As Sondra struggles to uncover what happened to Tracy, she’s launched into a tangled web of deceit and danger that put her on a collision course with life and death…

I really enjoyed this book.  It had some pretty gruesome, disgusting parts that gave you a look at a real abuser.  It had many twists and turns that really kept my attention.  Even though there was a bit of an incling the ending was quite surprising to me.  Definitely would recomend this book.

A Daughter's Choice by Cathy Sharp

Kathy Cole refuses to stay at home with her bitter, drunken father and instead is determined to do her bit for the men in the Great War by trainiHe doesn't initially take much notice of the young, innocent athy and she knows it's wrong to think of Tom as anything other than a friend, especially as she's promised to Billy Ryan back home in the East End.

However, Kathy and Tom find themselves thrown together and they become closer than they should.  But when the war is finally over, Kathy makes a life-changing decision with disastrous consequences...

This was an easy read.  Lots of things happening to Kathy but she seems to come out okay even though she makes some terrible choices. I did find it interesting though.

The Winter Sea by Di Morrissey

Escaping an unhappy marriage and an unsatisfactory job, Cassie Holloway moves to the little Australian coastal town of Whitby Point. There she meets the Aquino family, whose fishing business was founded by their ancestor, Giuseppe, an Italian immigrant, some ninety years before. Life for Cassie on the south west coast is sweet as she sets up a successful restaurant and falls in love with Giuseppe's great grandson Michael. But when the family patriarch dies, a devastating family secret is revealed which threatens to destroy her dreams. Cassie's future happiness now rests with her quest for the truth.

This book tells two stories, one from the past and one in the present, that share a long buried connection. Starting in Italy in1906 and moving to Australia in 2011. The timelines ultimately intersect revealing a family secret with implications affecting the present day.

I found it an easy and enjoyable read and wouldn't mind reading another book by this author.

Annika, Bunnies & Birthdays

 

Annika, GD#2, has just started her training to become a primary care paramedic.  At the ripe old age of 19 she is already a qualified EMT (emergency medical technician).  We are very proud grandparents!!

This bunny has been a frequent visitor to our back yard.  He is still small enough to squeeze under one part of the fence, but not for much longer I wouldn't think!!

We had a delicious meal out for our birthdays.  First time in a restaurant since February.  There were plexiglass dividers between the booths and all staff wore gloves and masks.  We went in the afternoon rather than the evening so there would be fewer people.

UK Goodies

 DS#2 went to London on a flight and brought me another batch of goodies!!

This is just the top layer of the box, lots of other goodies underneath.

He left on a flight to Hong Kong this afternoon-14 hours.  They have very strict covid protocol when you go there.   He had to have a covid test 48 hours prior to the flight.  Another one when they land.  They are taken to the hotel and given a key card to open the hotel room.  This card is programmed to only open the door once so you can't leave your room as you won't be able to get back in.  If you are found outside your room you are ARRESTED!!!  So you have to stay in your room for 16 hours and then they come and take them back to the airport to get on  their flight home.  They sure don't fool around over there!

Books 11-18

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts.  The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games.  But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature.  Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender.  But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

I'm not going to say much about this book except that I really liked it.  I'm sure most people have seen the movie (I haven't) so most people know the plot etc.  I found it to be a real page turner as I kept wanting to know what happens next.  

I'm not going to say anything about books 2 and 3 as it will give everything away.  I recommend that the books are read one after another because the story continues on as if it is one book.  Looking forward to reading Book 4,  The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the prequel.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs

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It's sweltering hot in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Temperance Brennan, still recovering from neurosurgery for an aneurysm, is battling nightmares, migraines, and what she thinks might be hallucinations.  She receives a series of mysterious text messages, each containing a picture of a corpse missing its face and hands.  She's anxious to know who the dead man is and why the images were sent to her.

To discover the man's identity, Tempe must go rogue and work outside the system.  Her new boss holds a fierce grudge and is determined to bar her from the case.  But she bulls forward anyway, even as she questions her instincts and as puzzles accumulate: Was the faceless man a spy? A trafficker? A target for assassination by the government?  And why was he carrying a piece of paper referring to a long-missing child?

With help from a number of law enforement associates, including her Montreal beau Andrew Ryan and the always-ready-with-a-quip ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell, Tempe draws closer to the astonishing truth.

But the more she uncovers, the darker and more twisted the picture becomes....

It had been quite a while since Reichs had put out a Tempe Brennan book and I was looking forward to this latest one after reading the previous 18 in the series.  While, as usual, this was another great story, I have to say I had a bit of a problem staying focused while reading it.  Tempe is recovering from an unruptured aneurysm, as was the author in real life, and so I felt everything, thoughts and actions, were jumping all over the place.  She is more reckless than usual, this is to be put down to the medical issues.  While Skinny played a huge part in this book Ryan was, for the most part, absent. Because of her relationship with her new boss there is very little lab work and far more police work.  I think I prefer her in the lab.  Hopefully the next book in the series will have Tempe doing what she does best, Forensic Anthropology!

The Tombs by Clive Cussler and Thomas Perry

When an archeologist friend requests their help to excavate a top-secret historical site, the Fargos are intrigued. But they have no idea that their discoveries will set them on a hunt for a prize beyond all imagination.
The clues point to the hidden tomb of Attila the Hun, who was reportedly buried with a vast fortune of gold, jewels, and plunder: a bounty that has never been found.
As they follow a trail throughout Europe, it leads them not to one tomb, but five. The Fargos also find themselves pitted against a thieving group of treasure hunters, a cunning Russian businessman, and a ruthless Hungarian who claims direct descent from Attila himself—and will stop at nothing to achieve his destiny...

It started quite slowly, and picked up a bit as the story unfolded, but it soon became obvious exactly what was going to be happening at every turn. It was way too predictable, and there was no suspense at all making the story really boring after the half way point for me. The characters seemed a little unbelieveable. The good people were too friendly, too helpful, and too nice, which along with the complete predictability of everything, and the unbelievable ease the main characters have in obtaining the most impossible help in an instant, made it obvious that nothing bad was going to happen, sucked all suspense and realism out of the story, and made it a very tiresome effort to get through.

This is the first Clive Cussler book I've read and I see that this book is the fourth in a series.  I would read more but I will try to get the first books and read them first.

Lost Empire by Clive Cussler

While scuba diving in Tanzania, Sam and Remi Fargo come upon a strange relic belonging to a long-lost Confederate ship, which sets them off chasing the mystery of its origins.  But engaged in the same chase is Mexico's ultranationalist ruling party, who are intent on finding the artifact as well-because it contains a secret that could destroy them.

Through Tanzania and Zanzibar, into the rain forests of Madagascar, and across the Indian Ocean to Indonesia and the legendary site of the 1883 Krakatoa explosion, the Fardos and their ruthless opponents pursue the hunt-but only one can win.  And second place means death.

A fairly decent book but a so far fetched and unbelievable  I just wasn't thrilled with the story and the reason for the bad guys to do what they did.  It didn't hold my interest and found I was losing focus and had to reread bits.  I could really have written the same review as I did with The Tombs.  The ending is very predictable and basically same stuff different day.  I have one more of Cusslers books in the same series.  I'll read it but I don't think I'd get any of the others.

The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.
Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.
Who is the child and what really happened that day?

This is a good mystery.  I kept flip flopping on the 'who done it'.  It kept me interested and found the story had lots of twists and turns.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?

As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.

Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.

Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected friendship.

I took this review from 'Good Reads' as it seems to sum it up very well.

This is a story about 91 year old Vivian who as a child was orphaned and placed on the "Orphan Train".

Vivian tells her story of being adopted and how she is mistreated throughout her childhood.
Then there is Molly who is 17 and has lived in many foster homes.
Molly must do 50 hours of community service and this is where she crosses paths with 91 year old Vivian.
Vivian lives in a mansion where she has an attic that needs cleaning out.The attic is filled boxes, furniture and memories.This is where Molly does her community service and helps Vivian sort through her possessions.
During this time they discover they have quite a lot in common.
I really enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend it.

Before and After Take 2

Peonies  this time last year. 

Peonies this year after one too many heavy rain storms.

Clematis this time last year.

Clematis this year!

Blueberry bushes two years ago when I planted 5 of them.

Blueberry patch this year, all five did not survive over winter.  All pulled out.

 The garden is having a tough time so far this year!!!

Now you see it.....

This is our 40+ year old cottoneaster hedge.

All the dark areas are infested with oyster shell scale.  It's throughout the city.  We've been fighting it for three years but we had to do the only fix that would work.

And now it's all gone!  Because we've had so much rain the eggs haven't hatched yet so we did this just in time.  A couple of our neighbours cut theirs down a couple of weeks ago and they have new growth already.  By this time next year it will probably be a couple of feet high.  It will be easier to shovel the snow this coming winter!!