Ready time was sadly limited this week, but I managed to devour a few more Gaslight Mysteries, and I’ve several books in-progress that I’ll finish soon – hopefully in time to include them in next week’s Roundup!
“Gaslight Mystery” books #2-4 by Victoria Thompson: So… I’m kinda obsessed with these books now. Sarah and Frank quickly joined the ranks of my favorite ships (stay tuned for a post on those!), but there’s plenty to say about this series without talking romance. As I mentioned with the first book, the mysteries are intriguing without getting too “clever” – I’m usually able to guess the murderer’s identity but not always, which keeps things interesting. One of the best things about the books, though, is Thompson’s portrayal of life in 1890s New York. Her characters (and to some extent, the series itself, which began in 1999) are very much of their time, complete with ignorance and prejudices, but still very sympathetic to contemporary readers. Sometimes I read historical fiction and find the characters anachronistically “woke,” but Thompson is able to be progressive in her writing and sympathies (spending much time on the plight of the poor and of persecuted immigrants) without sacrificing historical accuracy. In comparison to many supporting characters, Sarah and Frank (Sarah, especially) are pretty open-minded, but they still have their gaps in understanding, and they learn gradually and usually through increased contact with people who are unlike themselves, which feels realistic. Already in the books I’ve read, Thompson has tackled class issues, prejudices against Irish and Italian people, and anti-Catholicism. She also spends a great deal of time exploring gender issues among all strata of society. I’m interested to see what else she’ll take on in the later books – and if she’ll start including any characters of color, who have been noticeably absent thus far.
Headed for Trouble: A Troubleshooters/Navy Seal Team 16 Anthology by Suzanne Brockmann: This anthology of short stories was a fun glimpse into the lives of some background characters we’ve met in passing the main series. Plus, there are even adventures from old favorites, like Sam and Alyssa, as well as “interviews” with characters that are obviously just Brockmann having some fun. Short stories aren’t generally my favorite thing, but as I approach the end of the series, I’m glad to spend a little more time in the “Troubleshooters” world with the characters I’ve come to love.
What about you? Did you have much time for reading over the holidays? Tell me your favorites!
–b
Book It With Becca 