My reading was a bit all over the place this week, but then, I was a bit all over the place this week, so that makes sense. Sometimes, that doesn’t work out well, but this time, it took me to some interesting places, from true crime to paranormal romance. And I think that variety was just what I needed.
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes & Joe Layden: The best books about movies are always the ones written by fans, and Elwes clearly loves his work, the industry, and The Princess Bride in particular. His style is easy, funny, and full of behind the scenes insight and anecdotes. Honestly, I enjoyed hearing about the casting process and studio setup as much as the funny stories. I also have a strong urge to reread the original book and rewatch the film after reading this!
American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI by Kate Winkler Dawson: I’ll be honest, I was distracted while listening to the audiobook for this, so that may be influencing my feelings about it. The subject — the father of modern crime scene forensics, Edward Oscar Heinrich — is fascinating, but I struggled with the format, which jumped back and forth, squeezed biographical bits into sections where they didn’t seem to fit, and constantly repeated information that was important enough for the reader to remember (tell me who John Boyntan Kaiser is one more time!). Winkler Dawson’s writing is actually pretty compelling, if a bit dramatic, but the jumbled chronology made it hard to follow the progression of Heinrich’s career.
The Maid by Nita Prose: Molly Gray is proud of her work as a maid at an upscale hotel, but when she finds a guest dead in his room, she begins to realize that not all is as it seems. She’s caught in a web of intrigue… but exactly when was she caught? I really enjoyed this charming mystery, which relies more on character development than plot to draw you in. Molly, of course, is a big part of that as our only first-person narrator and guide to this world. She’s also, quite simply, wonderful. Her sense of right and wrong, her hopes and dreams (which some might call mundane, but not me), and her love of cleanliness and routine is relatable, as is her difficulty fitting into a world that isn’t built for neurodiversity. Molly is also a great fan of Columbo, and fellow fans will enjoy the many nods to the show. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll Come Back for You by Charish Reid: Honestly, this book is such a delight, and I was hooked from the start. The premise — a fake ghost hunter TV crew runs up against a very real, very malevolent ghost — is brilliant, and the leads, Whitney and Deon, are compelling and so sweet together they had me grinning ear-to-ear. I’ll Come Back For You walks a fine line between spooky, romantic, and cathartic, and I’m so glad I overlooked my usual horror-aversion to give this a chance (the horror factor, it turns out, is not that bad, in case you’re also shy of the genre). I almost missed something wonderful! Thank you to author Charish Reid for providing an eARC for review.
Maiden Lane #8-9 by Elizabeth Hoyt: This series continues to be great dramatic fun, with indomitable women and brooding heroes. Dearest Rogue, especially, was a favorite — I love a good bodyguard romance, and Phoebe is such a vibrant character. I really enjoyed Sweetest Scoundrel, too, but a new plot has been introduced (at least, I think it’s new? I started midway through the series but hadn’t even heard hints of it in the 4 books I’d read before this) that went a little farther over the top than I was expecting, and there are a lot of trigger warnings for the subject matter. But once again, the leads had me invested. And I’m really looking forward to the next book, Duke of Sin, and finally exploring the amoral Duke of Montgomery!
How is your reading week going? Any new favorites or recommendations? I think I mentioned last week that I’m in the mood for good nonfiction audiobooks, so if there are any you love, please share!
—b
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