The Return of the Raven Mocker by Donis Casey...if you'd like a historical look at a pandemic from a great mystery series...

The Return of the Raven Mocker is the 9th book in Donis Casey's historical mystery series set in early 20th century Oklahoma.  Donis has written a 10-book series that tells about Alafair Tucker, her husband Shaw, and their family of 10 children.  This particular book is set in 1918 and lets us know what's happened to the Tucker family during war time.  Mostly, it's about the flu epidemic and how it affects Boynton and Oklahoma and the Tuckers.  I read this book about 3 years ago soon after a bout of flu, so it was interesting to me in that regard.  It might be interesting to you as well.  Alafair is a farm wife and a skilled amateur healer.  Plus she also does some crime investigation as well.  She has experience with 10 children and has nursed many family members through illness.  She has her own opinions about remedies and how to best keep this severe flu from spreading.  After Alice and Walter, her daughter and son-in-law, are stricken, Alafair moves to town to nurse them, while placing her younger children and grandchildren in quarantine with Mary, another daughter.  Flu spreads rapidly through the town and people are sick and some die.  The people in the house next door to Alice have flu, but when two of them die and it turns out they were poisoned, Alafair tells the sheriff and his deputy what she has observed.  I loved this book, but will say that it was not a very complicated mystery to solve.  I enjoyed reading more about the way that a pandemic was dealt with and also was interested in some of the 'home remedies' that the author shared at the end of the book.  Remedies that I remember my own grandmother using.  Again, I love the characters and setting!

I also wanted to share the link to a guest post that Donis did on the Mystery Fanfare blog last Friday.  It was entitled What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do and in it, Donis talks about her research in writing The Return of the Raven Mocker and shares some of the 'old time' remedies.  Take a look!  And if you're thinking about reading something different, you might try this series.  The first book is The Old Buzzard Had It Coming. 

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As usual, I'll wish all of you a safe, sensible, and healthy day.  Take care!

Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert

I've finally become immersed in a book - yay!  It's Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert and this is her debut novel.  I'll share the specifics below, but also wanted to share a link to a guest post Tessa wrote for the Jungle Red Writers blog last Thursday - it's All By Ourselves--With a Terrific Book!  In it, she shares some of her favorite books that feature isolation - something we are all coming to know right now.  Take a look and now I have to get back to 'Death in the Family'!

 

Death in the Family

by Tessa Wegert

Thirteen months ago, former NYPD detective Shana Merchant barely survived being abducted by a serial killer. Now hoping to leave grisly murder cases behind, she's taken a job in her fiancé's sleepy hometown in the Thousand Islands region of Upstate New York.

But as a nor'easter bears down on her new territory, Shana and fellow investigator Tim Wellington receive a call about a man missing on a private island. Shana and Tim travel to the isolated island owned by the wealthy Sinclair family to question the witnesses. They arrive to find blood on the scene and a house full of Sinclair family and friends on edge.

While Tim guesses they're dealing with a runaway case, Shana is convinced that they have a murder on their hands. As the gale intensifies outside, she starts conducting interviews and discovers the Sinclairs and their guests are crawling with dark and dangerous secrets.

Trapped on the island by the raging storm with only Tim whose reliability is thrown into question, the increasingly restless suspects, and her own trauma-fueled flashbacks for company, Shana will have to trust the one person her abduction destroyed her faith in—herself. But time is ticking down, because if Shana's right, a killer is in their midst and as the pressure mounts, so do the odds that they'll strike again.

Mystery Book Conferences cancelled....sad but necessary...

In the past few years I've been lucky enough to attend two different mystery book conferences - one of them twice.  Such a fun time.  I went to Left Coast Crime in 2016 when it was held in Phoenix.  Had a wonderful experience and my blog posts about it can be found in my archive to the right - March 2016.  After that, I attended the Malice Domestic mystery conference twice, 2017 and 2018.  Again, my experiences can be found in my archives, May 2017 and May 2018.  I met authors and attended award dinners, bid on wonderful charity auctions and won books, was given books, got to hear authors talk on panels.  Just was a major fangirl all around.

I debated whether I wanted to go this year and went back and forth regarding my decision.  After going to Malice two times, I wanted to go back to Left Coast Crime, which was being held in San Diego from March 12-15.  However, I waited too late to try to sign up and the conference hotel was full.  Deciding I didn't want to have to stay in a hotel several blocks away, I unhappily stayed home.  Turned out it was a good thing as it was cancelled soon after it began by the city of San Diego.  

Left Coast Crime 2020

  

These mystery conferences are sponsored and put on by all-volunteer non-profit organizations.  Each group also raises funds for literacy charities.  Malice Domestic is held each year in Bethesda, Maryland and they have a very faithful set of individuals who work hard to see that mystery authors and fans have a great time.  Left Coast Crime is also arranged and run by an all-volunteer crew, but the city changes each year.  The only requirement is that the host city be in the 'Left' part of the US - Mountain time or west of that.  

The Left Coast 'Lefty' Awards were voted on and announced virtually and you can check them out here.  I do feel so sorry for the hardworking committee that spent so much time planning and making sure this conference would be wonderful.  I remember being told about it and invited to attend by author Kathy Krevat, who served as the 'registrar'.

Next year, Left Coast Crime will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 8-11, 2021.  I'm definitely planning on attending.  All are invited!

Left Coast Crime 2021

As the situation changed, the Malice Domestic organizers at first thought to postpone the 2020 conference, which was to be held from May 1-3, 2020.  However, eventually they decided to also cancel the conference for this year.  The Agatha Awards will still be given and the nominated books will be voted on and the award winners announced in a special live streamed event.  Next year, the 33rd annual Malice Domestic will be held April 29-May 2, 2021.  I may consider attending that one as well.  If you're going to be around, you should think about attending.  It's a great conference and a lot of fun!

Malice Domestic

      

Other mystery awards, such as the Edgars, will still be presented in some manner, but decisions regarding that are up in the air.  The summer and fall mystery conferences are also in the 'to be decided' category.  Bouchercon 2020, the largest mystery conference, is scheduled to be held in Sacramento on October 15-18.  Only time will tell what will happen.

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Otherwise, hope everyone reading here will be safe, sensible, and remain healthy.  Thanks for stopping by!

Waiting on...Hid From Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Greetings, book friends!  You know, one of the things that has changed dramatically in the last few weeks is the possibility of a book tour for authors that have new books just published or soon-to-be published.  They have all been cancelled.  Of course, this has affected the authors, the book venues where events were to be held (bookstores, libraries, book conventions).  Many are doing online events, such as the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona.  This independent bookstore has many, many book events each year and they put many of them on Facebook or YouTube.  Right now, they are doing totally virtual book events with as many authors on their schedule as they can. 

I've decided that in upcoming days, I'm going to be highlighting some books that are soon-to-be published or some that have recently been published.  I'll admit that I'm not reading much, but I know that will change over time.  If a book is not yet out, this will be a 'Waiting on' feature.  If it is already published, it will be just the title and author.  No reviews from me will accompany these, but perhaps in the future I'll do those.  Watch for these every couple of days and add to your TBR, purchase for yourself, or ask your library to purchase these books.  It all helps.

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Today, I'm starting with a book that I've been 'Waiting on' for several years.  This is the 9th book in the author's wonderful mystery series that's set in upstate New York.  There will indeed be a 'virtual' author event from the Poisoned Pen - details here.   

Hid From Our Eyes

by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Publication Date:  April 7th

1952. Millers Kill Police Chief Harry McNeil is called to a crime scene where a woman in a party dress has been murdered with no obvious cause of death.

1972. Millers Kill Police Chief Jack Liddle is called to a murder scene of a woman that's very similar to one he worked as a trooper in the 50s. The only difference is this time, they have a suspect. Young Vietnam War veteran Russ van Alstyne found the body while riding his motorcycle and is quickly pegged as the prime focus of the investigation.

Present-day. Millers Kill Police Chief Russ van Alstyne gets a 911 call that a young woman has been found dead in a party dress, the same MO as the crime he was accused of in the 70s. The pressure is on for Russ to solve the murder before he's removed from the case.

Russ will enlist the help of his police squad and Reverend Clare Fergusson, who is already juggling the tasks of being a new mother to her and Russ's baby and running St. Alban's Church, to finally solve these crimes.

Readers have waited years for this newest book and Julia Spencer-Fleming delivers with the exquisite skill and craftsmanship that have made her such a success.

More pictures from my walks lately...and my haircut that won't happen...

Hello book friends!  I thought I would share a few more pictures that I've taken this week on my solitary walks.  I'll save the 'best' for last.

Beautiful colors here and so full of blossoms!

More wildflowers with some purple sage plants behind.  The purple sage are not in bloom as yet, but they will be.

I think this looks hopeful - you can see the blossom buds that are on this cactus.  Blooms will be coming and they are surprisingly beautiful.

Told you that I saved the 'best' for last.  Can you see this racer snake that was in my front yard?  My hubby actually took the picture.  I ran inside and told him there was a snake outside and he quickly came and assured me that it was not poisonous.  We found a snake skin in that area a couple of years ago that was about 5 ft long.  My hubby surmised that it might be from this same snake.  Just a reminder to keep my eyes open on my walks.  The snakes are among us.

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OK, I know that in the grander scheme of things the fact that my monthly haircut won't happen is not earth shattering.  However....I have short hair.  I like it to be like I like it to be.  I don't color or highlight it and it's mostly gray now.  I get it cut and trimmed on a fairly regular 4-week schedule.  Of course, my next appointment was scheduled for yesterday.  And my hairstylist is not cutting hair right now.  As is wise and prudent and necessary.  She called me earlier this week and said she was closing her shop right now and, as she had been planning a move to another location, wouldn't be open for several weeks to come - regardless of when we're all circulating in the world again.  She said she was nervous that some of her clients would decide to color and highlight themselves and she'd have a big mess on her hands later.  She also said - don't cut your hair.  I promised I wouldn't (it would be very bad if I did), but I did ask if it was OK if I shaved my head.  Ha!  She said to 'remain shaggy'!  We'll see how it goes.

How about some cupcake pictures and a cozy mystery series to go along with them?

I've shared pictures of flowers of all kinds and also talked about some comfort reads.  I decided today to talk about Jenn McKinlay's cupcake bakery mystery series and also once again share cupcake pictures.  I'll keep it short, but let me tell you, if my daughter has her baker's hat on (as opposed to her nurse's hat), she can create some ultra-yummy treats.  First the mystery series:


Jenn McKinlay is an amazingly prolific author.  She has written several mystery series and now some standalones.  She's a former librarian.  She's got a husband and kids.  And she lives in Phoenix, Arizona.  The only mystery series I've read of hers so far is her cupcake bakery series.  It's set in Old Town Scottsdale and stars two friends, Angie DeLaura and Melanie Cooper.  These ladies own Fairy Tale Cupcakes, partially because of help from another friend, Tate Harper.

In the first book, Sprinkle With Murder, Tate's fiance is murdered.  She was sort of a bridezilla and was actually found dead with one of Angie and Melanie's sample cupcakes.  Hijinks ensue and both the cupcake ladies are suspected of the crime.  Angie has several brothers and so family plays a part.  Angie, Melanie and Tate have been friends since they were kids.  Everyone has an opinion.  Oh, and there is also a 'crazy as a loon' woman who is their competition.  Always fun to see her.

There are now 11 books in this series and the newest will come out in late April, Pumpkin Spice Peril.  So, if you're thinking that a little sweetness would go along well with your murder, you might try one of these books.  They are fun!

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Also, just for fun, here are some of the cupcakes my daughter has created for friends and family over the last few years.  Believe me, they are tasty!  Enjoy and please take care!

Chocolate cupcake with Vanilla Buttercream
 frosting and fondant flower

Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Peppermint Hot Cocoa cupcake

Butter Pecan Praline cupcakes

Valentine's cupcakes

Red Velvet cupcakes
 with Cream Cheese frosting

A list of some of my favorite comfort reads...and now's the time for them...

As I said, I'm going to be taking a look back through some of my previous posts and see if there are some special books or thoughts that might be appropriate to share again, at least this week.  This was a 'Top 10 Tuesday' from a couple of years ago - kay's favorite books to read again and again...otherwise known as 'my comfort reads'.  Hope it might give some ideas for all of you and also for me.

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 I know that not everyone likes to re-visit books favorites.  My top reason is probably to derive comfort when life gives me lemons - which it certainly has from time to time.  And I agree with the 3rd quote:  reading is indeed my refuge.

"Tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are" is true enough, but I'd know you better if you told me what you reread.   ~~Francois Mauriac~~

When you reread a classic, you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than was there before.     ~~Clifton Fadiman~~

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.     ~~W. Somerset Maugham~~

These 10 (OK, more than 10) books are in no particular order and I almost certainly enjoy and reread other books by the same authors, especially series books.

1.  The Secret - Julie Garwood -  historical romance - Scottish Highlands - a reluctant midwife and a Scottish laird

2.  Die For Love - Elizabeth Peters - mystery set at a romance writers convention - funny - big floppy hats, lots of hearts and valentines - and a body

3.  The Crying Child - Barbara Michaels - spooky old house in Maine - what's in the attic?

4.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the rest of the story - J.K. Rowling - it's Harry Potter - enough said

5.  A Murder is Announced - Agatha Christie - Miss Marple - a murder invite in the paper and you can come - Or if your tastes run to Hercule Poirot, Cards on the Table - 4 sleuths and 4 possible murderers

6.  Dance Upon the Air, Heaven and Earth, Face the Fire - Nora Roberts - the Three Sisters Island trilogy - romance and witches - what more do you want?

7.  The Shop on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber - knitting and female friendship - plus a little romance - also the other books in the Blossom Street series

8.  Virgin River - Robyn Carr - a community in the Northern California hills - this whole series is delightful - romance and a great cast of characters

9.  Bootlegger's Daughter - Margaret Maron - the whole Judge Deborah Knott mystery series - set in North Carolina and including the very large Knott family - love these on audio

10.  A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie - the whole Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James mystery series - the way the relationships develop and all the interesting things you learn about London and other English locations - and the maps!

To possibly help you take a breath and relax a bit...

I said last weekend that I might be sharing some posts in upcoming days that would be related to themes or lists.  I've decided I might even repost some older things I've already talked about here, with a little editing.  So, this is where I'm starting.  I've used the word BREATHE before for my 'One Word' of the year.  My word for this year was BLOOM and I've shared pictures of flowers.  Here's my thoughts for right now on BREATHE.

The ocean picture above was taken by me at the Oregon Coast in 2010, a trip that showed me how the ocean and the rhythms there were so very soothing to me - the person who always looks to the mountains for solace.  Thinking about BREATHE brings that trip to mind and how I was so mesmerized by watching the waves.  It's a good reminder.

I really like a song entitled 'Breathe' by Jonny Diaz, a contemporary Christian artist.  There are a couple of verses that speak to me very, very strongly:


I’m hanging on tight to another wild day
When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to take it in, fill your lungs
The peace of God that overcomes
Just breathe (just breathe)
let your weary spirit rest
Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
Just breathe (just breathe)


If you are interested in hearing the song in it's entirety, you can find it on YouTube.

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Hope you are all maintaining wherever you might be.  Take such good care and get some fresh air and breathe if you're able to.  I'm thinking of everyone and I'll be back in a couple of days with another post about something - who knows what?  Ha!

A few more cheerful flower pictures I've taken all over the place...

I decided that I'll share a few more flower pictures I've got lurking on my saved picture folder here.  I'm sure I've shared all of these on this blog in the past, but I'm going to share them again.  I may do a few posts in upcoming days that have themes or lists - just for fun.  Can you tell I'm a little antsy?  Ha!

Oh, one more thing...I don't seem to be able to comment on several of your blogs, but I'm not going to worry about it right now.  It seems to apply to all the Wordpress blogs and maybe a few others.  No issues with Blogger blogs.  I know that some have solved problems with commenting between Wordpress and Blogger in the past.  I also know that a few people have trouble commenting here.  Again, not going to worry about it right now.  If your blog is listed on my sidebar (a new thing for me), I read it. 

OK, here's some lovely flowers I've seen and their location:

Fredericksburg, Texas 

Fredericksburg, Texas

Bluebonnet in my front yard

Crepe myrtle in my front yard

Kerrville, Texas

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

Portland, Oregon

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Take care and have a safe, healthy weekend.  I'll be back next week with some other 'kooky' post.  Ha!

First day of a very unique spring...an update on life in Central Texas

Hello my lovely book friends!  Well, we live in memorable times don't we?  I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about viruses and restrictions and such here.  I do want to say that I hope each of you are well, that you are being mindful of others through this time, that you are being sensible (whatever that means in your area of the world and in your life with others), and that you also remember that we can be kind.  Hope you are practicing kindness.  I'm trying to be cheerful as well.  So, with that in mind, first day of spring. 

What does that mean?  Well, spring in Central Texas means wildflowers and yesterday I took a few pictures to share while I was on a solitary walk.  Just me, my headphones, my audiobook, and the lovely bluebonnets.  Flowers are coming up practically overnight here because we've had some nice rain and because it's their time.  Enjoy!

In other news, my husband is working from home.  My volunteering is paused for now as the libraries are closed.  Our church will be online for several weeks.  Restaurants are closed except for takeout and delivery.  I'm trying to take solitary walks in my neighborhood and the weather has cooperated.  We live a bit out in the country, though there are houses around us.  I wave to any neighbors that I see and we might shout greetings across the way.  I'm now thinking of all those things that you mean to do 'one day' - like sorting through old photographs or clearing out drawers or files from long ago.  I may do some of that.  Pulling weeds in the yard.  And I'm trying to make a few calls to friends and family to check on them and also say that I'm thinking about them.  That would have been something my Mom would have done.  So, consider this your 'call'. 

Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones.  Please take a minute to be grateful for the medical personnel that must continue to be available and serve.  I ask that as the Mom of a long-grown Labor and Delivery nurse.  She's doing fine, but babies will come on their own schedule and my daughter has an important job to do in helping run her L&D unit.  So far staffing is OK, but it wouldn't take much to tip the balance in another direction and then she and others might have to 'remain in place'.  I try not to worry too much. 

Again, take care.  I'll be around more often to your blogs to check in.  Enjoy your extra reading time!