I grew up in Wisconsin, land of gorgeous white snow in winter. The cold beauty of icicles hanging from our roof. A perfect murder weapon (ha ha), use it and then it melts so no evidence. Has that ever been done in real life or in a mystery novel? As children my sister and I made snow forts, snow angels, ice skated for free in local parks where rinks were created, and walked to school on the plowed streets. Snowflakes sparkling in the sun. Can you tell from mynostalgic ode to snow that I have now lived half my life in a part of California where it does not snow? In addition to its white glory, I do admit snow can be ugly slushy gray and conceal slippery ice. Anyhoo, above is a photo of a mystical snow covered bridge.
I did not want or need anything for Christmas so I treated myself and bought 9 books. I feel rich in books at the moment. I bought them online at Powells Books so I did not feed a mega monster store owned by a billionaire. Powell's Books has a huge selection, new and used, and they had every book I wanted.
I quickly read one of these books, The Bookseller by Mark Pryor. I am very happy this is the first book I read in 2022, it is brilliant with very high quality writing and plot. The main character is Head of Security for the American Embassy in Paris and he has crimes to solve. Good news that this is the first in a series. The bookseller is an elderly man who has a book stall along the Seine; I spent many happy moments browsing in those bookstalls, when I lived in Paris for two summers, so this book is a mad nostalgic read for me. Plus murder and mystery.
In case you can't read the titles in the photo, I bought two books by my favorite novelist, Anthony Trollope: Castle Richmond and Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite. This will bring my total of books I read by Trollope to 30. Love that man. His books were set in the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s, when he lived and wrote. I am reading Sir Harry Hotspur now, it is about Sir Harry and his 20 year old daughter, and who will she marry.
What books are you reading in the New Year?
