- The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear. #16 in the Maisie Dobbs series - which, if I'm honest, diminishes in quality as the series goes on, as though the author is maybe just a little tired of the whole thing - finds our intrepid sleuth in September 1941. Europe is reeling under Nazi occupation and Maisie finds herself investigating a murder that has implications for Britain's war effort.
- Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey. When a faculty member dies under suspicious circumstances at an elite magical boarding school, non-magical Ivy Gamble, private investigator, is hired to figure out what happened. Things are complicated by the fact that Ivy's magical and estranged sister is an educator at the school.
- A Sunlit Weapon by Jacqueline Winspear. Maisie Dobbs #17 (which I liked better than 16) is in October 1942, following women pilots and American servicemen and a possible threat to Eleanor Roosevelt, who is visiting England.
- Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders. Based on true events, this is the story of the all-Black battalion of American women soldiers, sent to England to sort out the millions of pieces of mail languishing in warehouses and get them to the servicemen who badly need the morale boost. I had no idea about this piece of WWII history - there's a movie? - so I enjoyed learning about it. I didn't think this book was terribly well written, however.
- Listen to Me by Tess Gerritsen. A murder mystery from the Rizzoli and Isles series (#13, but I don't think it's crucial to read them in order - these are popcorn books), wherein Jane Rizzoli (detective) and Maura Isles (medical examiner) investigate the murder of a well-liked nurse, all while Jane's nosy mom Angela starts getting suspicious of new neighbors down the street.
- Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon. I LOVED this one. Another WWII novel (there's been a lot lately, I know), this is a historical novel based on the TRUE story of Nancy Wake, an Australian socialite who became a spy and a French resistance leader against Nazi Germany. She began as a journalist, segued to helping Allied servicemen escape from occupied France over the mountains to Spain. Then, after the Nazis learned about her, she escaped to England herself - but then went back to France to help arm and organize the Maquis rebels as they fought against their German occupiers. Amazing woman.
- The Black Ascot by Charles Todd. This is the 21st murder mystery in the Ian Rutledge series by mother-son duo/pseudonym Charles Todd. Rutledge is battling his own shell shock from WWI while trying to solve a decade-old murder.
- Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Profession Wiseass by Dave Barry. This is a memoir, not a straight humor book or funny novel like so many of Barry's books. As such, there are some poignant moments, especially when dealing with his parents. But it's still pretty friggin' funny!
- A Cruel Deception by Charles Todd. This one is from their Bess Crawford series (#11), with heroine/nurse Bess Crawford assigned by a superior to find wayward soldier who has abandoned his duties and salving his mental WWI war wounds with opiates. I liked this one okay but Bess Crawford is no Maisie Dobbs.
- Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth. Ooh I liked this one too! This is an adult fantasy novel by Divergent author Roth, following a group of late 20/early 30-somethings who are plagued by serious PTSD following their defeat of a world-destroying dark entity. Trouble is, it doesn't look like he has stayed defeated.
- Clytemnestra by Constanza Casati. As previously noted, there seems to be a trend recently with authors novelizing Greek mythology. There are mixed results but I quite liked Clytemnestra, bringing to the forefront Helen of Troy's sister/wife of Agamemnon/queen of Mycenae who ruled in her husband's absence and paid him back for the murder/sacrifice of their daughter.
Next month: I finally finish the Maisie Dobbs series!
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