Fashion in the Middle Ages

Fashion in the Middle Ages was originally published as an exhibition catalog accompanying a historical retrospective at the J. Paul Getty museum in 2011. The book was apparently organized in relation to the physical exhibits in the museum, because it's not arranged in any obvious relation to time period, culture, or world location. This causes some amount of confusion and 'cultural whiplash'. I did enjoy Dr. Scott's commentary on sumptuary laws and the use of different materials.

There are interesting and well written notations about the curated objects.  Many of the illuminated pages are very well notated with interesting observations about the depictions being of a different culture or time period from that in which the objects were produced.

I received an electronic galley of this book and many of the illustrations were so pixellated and unclear as to be virtually unusable. The historical notes were very clear and well written, so I assume that a print copy of this book would solve the problems which plague the e-book.  An example of the pixellation below. Roughly 1/3 of the illustrations in the electronic version are sub-optimal. (see below). As noted before, the exhibit notes are well written and accessible and the illustrations could be better.

I enjoyed this small volume. I would have liked to have seen the original display.

Three and a half stars, most likely more (4 - 4.5) for the paper versions with better illustration reproductions.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

England Expects

England Expects is the third Mirabelle Bevan mystery by Sara Sheridan. Published 27th March 2018 (originally pub. 2014) by Kensington, it's 256 pages and available in ebook format (earlier editions are available in hardcover and paperback formats).

This is a nice period mystery set in 1950s Brighton. The plot is fairly straightforward with a satisfying pace and a number of twisty surprises.  The ensemble cast is varied and deftly written.  Even though the female lead (Mirabelle) outshines everyone around her, I really like that her associates have and follow their own motivations and the end result is a team effort.  There were a few over-the-top scenes, but it's a 1950s mystery/thriller. 

It's a clean book, there's no explicit language or sexual content.  There is scattered (contextual) racism and several murders (including one throat slashing which was pretty brutal, but not graphic).  The book has a sort of noir-light feel in my opinion.  It's traditional, but definitely not a cozy.

I did get the sense that the author is very invested in Mirabelle and yes, at times she's a stylish ninja supergirl model secret agent.  And yes, the evil illuminati masons conspiracy is a trifle overused, but honestly the plotting and characterization are so perfect and so spot on that I really didn't mind.  This is an eminently readable and enjoyable book.  The characters (even Ms. Superwoman Mirabelle herself) are well written and (mostly) believable and in character throughout.

I wouldn't recommend this as a standalone, there's a lot of past history which would be lost with a solo read. 

All around enjoyable series and this installment lives up to the quality of the previous books.  I'm looking forward to reading more in the series (there are 6 books and a handful of shorter works at this point).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Narwhal's Otter Friend (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #4)

Narwhal's Otter Friend is the 4th book featuring the charming and delightful Narwhal and Jelly. Written and illustrated by Ben Clanton it has an estimated release date in early Feb 2019.  It's fully illustrated in graphic novel style, 64 pages with easily read text, and available in hardcover format. The story is adorable and certainly familiar to almost every kid.  What happens when your best friend makes another new friend?  Of course Jelly's jealous when Narwhal meets Otter!  That's huge stuff when you're 5 years old (or in some cases, considerably older)!  I like that there's an intermission roughly in the middle of the book with a lot of cool factoids about real life otters and jellyfish.  There's also a couple of page story toward the end of the book (as in the previous books) illustrated in a very different style to differentiate it which reminded me of a similar technique Dav Pilkey uses for cutaway stories inside of his books (as the main characters drawing or telling another story inside the main story).

It's just such an exuberant book.  The illustrations are wonderful and the story itself is a lot deeper and more meaningful than the happy bouncy surface would imply.  I think this book (and indeed the other books in this series) would make worthwhile reading group or classroom reads for younger readers.  The characters are so relatable and real and the fact that they're anthropomorphic makes them more accessible. There is jealousy, conflict, and resolution and all are presented in a way that is understandable and non-threatening to a young reader.

This would be a superlative pick for a library read also. 

I am a huge fan!

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Prophecy's Daughter

Prophecy's Daughter is the second book of the Endarian Prophecy trilogy by Richard Phillips. Released 9th January 2018 on Amazon's 47North imprint, it's 291 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

This 'bridge' book (filling the gap between the beginning and end of a trilogy), and indeed the series thus far, are well written grand quest fantasy.  I read this second entry with an eye to how well it works as a standalone and the answer is, not very well.  I recommend reading the series in order to get a feel for the characters and world building.

The protagonist is young and despite being powerful, she's still learning her capacities and adjusting to the idea of leadership. I felt that she was written sensitively and in character and even though I felt like poking her and saying 'grow up!' sometimes, it was in character and her motivations were well placed.  The author gets a fair bit of allowance from me for the immaturity since this really struck me as mostly a YA/NA series.

The world building is solid with a myriad of characters but they're generally so well drawn and distinct that I've had no trouble keeping them apart in my head.

My only small quibble with the book is some of the names... they were distractingly modern American (Carol, Alan, etc).  According to the dedication, the author's wife is called Carol... so that's sweet.  I felt myself falling out of the story fairly regularly because of the names.  All in all, not a very big issue.

Definitely worth a read for fans of quest/campaign fantasy.

Three and a half stars. Entertaining and readable.

Worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. This title is available in the KU subscription.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Eating Wild in Eastern Canada

Eating Wild in Eastern Canada is a tutorial guide to general foraging with a specific focus on maritime climates and species. Released 23rd May 2018 by Nimbus publishing, it's 184 pages and available in paperback format.

Author Jamie Simpson is a lawyer, activist, and wild food expert with years of experience in foraging in the areas he talks about in the book. 

Eating Wild is written clearly in layman's language and is easily accessible for the average reader.  The book is built up logically with common sense safety instructions (if you aren't absolutely sure that what you're about to put into your mouth is edible, don't).  The author also cautions against over-harvesting, a vitally necessary reminder everyone needs to hear.

One thing I loved about the layout was that the chapters aren't sorted into an herbal (as most field guides are), but grouped together in zones.  Chapter 1 includes the species to be found in forest and zonal areas, Chapter 2 discusses wet environments like bogs, marshes, rivers, Chapter 3 covers seashores and brackish areas, etc. There's a serviceable bibliography and index at the back of the book.  Scattered throughout the text, there are recipes which run the gamut from mild to adventurous. Included in each chapter is an interview or short bio with a restaurateurs or other forager.

The photography is excellent, clear, and supports and explains the text well with regards to which parts of the various plants, fungi, etc are usable and at which time of the year.  There are also a number of good photos of finished dishes scattered throughout the book.

This isn't a replacement for a good specific field guide.  It's a supporting text, lavishly photographed and with some good recipes.

Four stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Gallows Court

Gallows Court is a new standalone mystery by mystery mavin Martin Edwards. Released 6th Sept 2018 by Head of Zeus, it's available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. Mr. Edwards will be known to most classic mystery fans as a consultant for the British Library Crime Classics series as well as for his authorship of the modern Lake District series published by Poisoned Pen Press.

Despite being set in the interwar London period of classic mysteries, this book had a lot more of a noir thriller vibe for me than a classic golden age 'Christie' feel.  The bad guys are archetypal, the plot devices rather devious.  It was unclear for much of the book whether the female lead character, Rachel, was evil, manipulative, devious, crazy or a combination of the above. The male protagonist, and indeed the supporting characters are well written and follow an internal logic.  The dialogue is very well written and never clunky or distracting. 

This is an intricate and very well plotted mystery which follows the rules of detective fiction for readers who enjoy racing against the fictional detective. The pacing is incredibly finely tuned and there are twists and turns aplenty. This is a solidly well written entertaining book from a gifted author.  It's not a classic golden age country house mystery, but it's a perfect edgy read nonetheless.

Possibly worth noting for kindle unlimited subscribers.  This book is available to loan in the KU subscription. It's definitely good enough for a reread though, which is my benchmark for buying my own copy (and I intend to do so).

Five stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Worldshaper

Worldshaper is the first book in a new YA/NA crossworld fantasy series by Edward Willett. Released 18th Sept 2018 on Penguin's DAW imprint, it's 368 pages and available in paperback, audio and ebook formats.

This book brings an interesting world-building and fantasy imprint to the table.  The lead character Shawna is a potter (I like that!) and 'shaper'. She's unaware of her special status as the shaper of the world she lives in (a central plot point which will apparently be revisited in future books).  There are hundreds of other shaped worlds which lie tenuously connected contiguously to one another.  Her guide Karl (a sort of Harry Dresden pastiche, complete with duster and hat) is an extraterrestrial on a mission to save First World (Earth prime) and the Labyrinth (the collection of multiverses).  There's a fair smattering of Judeo-Christian concepts and vocabulary (The 'Adversary', hokhmah - Hebrew for 'wisdom') side by side with classic SF/fantasy elements (nanites, AI, gates, crossworlds etc).

There's some rough language (multiple uses of the f-bomb, and lighter cursing). There's some light implied (off narrative) sexual entendre between the lead character and her boyfriend early on in the book, but nothing explicit.  

There's a lot of potential here and although I found this first book to be disappointingly reactive instead of plot led, I feel that the author could well find his feet and take this series in a good direction.

I'll be interested to see where the author goes from here.  This was an interesting read and has a lot of potential.  It was long, for a YA/NA novel in my estimation.  A sample of the first chapter/intro is available on Amazon.

Three stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Deathly Portent (A Lady Fan Mystery #2)

The Deathly Portent is the second Lady Fan Mystery by Elizabeth Bailey. Released 23rd Aug 2018 by Sapere books, it's 381 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.

I really like historical fiction.  I love period based mysteries.  I enjoyed the first book in this series and fully expected to enjoy this one as well.  There is a fair bit to enjoy.  The author has done a lot of research and it shows.  Her writing is competent and the plot flows mostly without lagging too terribly much.

I found myself struggling to connect with the main characters. They're by turns rude, overbearing, condescending and not terribly bright. (I can stick all of the above, but blundering and clueless are deadly).  I finished the book last weekend, and I'm still annoyed over 'whodunnit'.  It might well be true to period, but I read fiction for escape and excusing blatant racism and sexism because 'it's period' should remain firmly in the past.  I get enough depressing headlines from the newspaper feed.

I struggled to finish this book because of the language.  It's not an easy exercise, making archaic and obsolescent speech patterns palatable for modern readers. The author gave it a good try, but in my case at least, I winced a lot. Every single b'aint was a speed bump. Every use of 'creature' referring to women (43! I counted) was a break in my suspension of disbelief and every 'head toss' and 'fluttering' body part made me want to bang my head on my desk.

This is a murder mystery written, for all intents and purposes, like a period romance. There is romance and implied physical relations (off scene, nothing graphic).  There is implied cursing but nothing graphic or specific. There isn't any direct content to offend or shock modern audiences, unless one counts the sexism and anti 'everyone who isn't white and male' sentiment.

There are now 3 books in the series with a 4th expected 3rd Jan, 2019.  

Worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book (and the others in the series) are included in the KU subscription.

Three stars for me. The writing is competent and the plot framework was within bounds. I will say that there are a lot of diehard fans of this author and the series as a whole, so I seem to be in the minority.  Probably worth a try for period romance fans.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Dump Cake Magic: The No-Bowl, No-Mess Method of Fuss-Free Baking

Dump Cake Magic is a collection of one-pan dessert recipes by Anne Schaeffer. Released 8th Oct 2018 by Fox Chapel, it's 128 pages and available in paperback format.

I grew up in the southeastern part of the USA, where every church function and family reunion is guaranteed to have at least one 'dump' cake.  In my experience, dump cake was the cherry pie filling + yellow cake mix topped with sliced butter and chopped pecans version. It's simple and delicious and guaranteed to be a no-leftovers favorite.

This collection takes that time-saving idea one step further with a wide variety of tempting desserts. There are (by my count) 60 recipes for variations on the no-bowl one-pan dessert method. Each of the recipes is photographed finished, and a number of the recipes also include process photos.  Many of the recipes include serving or preparation tips.

I moved from the USA to Europe years ago, and shocking as it seems, it's very difficult to source 'ready made' boxed cake mixes here.  The included recipe for DIY cake mix was literally worth the price of the book for me!  What a life saver!

The three trial-review recipes we tested out were all really delicious as they were and needed no tweaking.  We fully intend to try out all of the included recipes.  In the meantime, my family can fully vouch for: Key Lime Cake (p. 18), Very Berry Cheesecake Squares (p. 68), and German Chocolate Cake (p. 108 (note: this one does require an actual boxed German chocolate cake mix)).

The recipes are simple and delicious and made with easily sourced ingredients, appealingly kid/family friendly.  There's also a handy index at the back of the book.

Five stars. Well done!

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Bryant & May: Hall of Mirrors

Bryant & May: Hall of Mirrors is the 15th (!!) book in Christopher Fowler's glorious series featuring an ensemble cast of synergistic misfits.  The quality of this series simply can't be overstated. The characters are perfectly drawn and obey believable internal motivations. They're always 'in character'.

This is one of my favorite series.  I anticipate each new entry and despite having received review copies, I buy copies and indeed have recommended and gifted books in the series to friends. Although Hall of Mirrors is temporally displaced from most of the rest of the PCU books, the seeds are there for the unfolding of future events.

It was genuinely touching to see the genesis of quirky trademarks like Bryant's pot plant, ratty striped scarf, and hippie Mini Victor. I loved seeing Bryant and May doing what they do together.

In exploding the classic English country house mystery, Mr. Fowler provides a perfect blending of tongue in cheek sarcasm, wonderful humor, engaging mystery and fun.  I loved seeing Bryant and May trapped in the countryside and as always lying under threat of an administrative sacking for them and the PCU.

This episode of the series could be read as a standalone, however, I strongly recommend starting from one of the 'current' books, especially since this book provides the origin for so many lynchpins of the books released earlier.

As always, the author's research and background are meticulous. I didn't notice any glaring anachronisms. The inconvenience of not having access to internet searches, Wi-Fi, mobile phones and other electronic doo-daddery is clear and present.

This book (and the series as a whole) are sharply funny.  They are biting and fast paced and funky and truly superlatively well written.

I recommend this book and the series wholeheartedly.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Gemstone Detective: Buying Gemstones and Jewellery in Sri Lanka

The Gemstone Detective is the nom de plume of Kim Rix, and this installment of Buying Gemstones and Jewellery is aimed at tourists who are traveling to Sri Lanka. This colorful and informative 100 page book was released 4th October 2018 by Filament publishing and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

For a relatively short book, it covers the basics of sourcing and buying gemstones and jewelry in Sri Lanka.  The author describes the methods and basic etiquette involved to hopefully help the tourist buyer avoid the worst and most costly pitfalls.

The layout follows a logical progression.  It begins with background and definitions.  It covers what corundum (ruby/sapphire) is, a very little bit about Mohs hardness scale, along with some mineral terms like asterism and chatoyancy. Defined terms are in bold typeface and are written for the layman.  There's a fair bit of fun factoid information included like famous sapphires in history and crystal 'meanings'.  There's not too much non-scientific crystal trivia included.  I would estimate the filler info (crystal 'meanings' and supposed properties) takes up less than 5% of the total content.

The next chapters include a very rough description of valuation and the attributes which make a stone more (or less) valuable. The options for sourcing and buying gemstones, both rough and cut stones as well as finished jewelry are written clearly and in terms that the average layman can understand.  This book is aimed firmly at the layperson. This is not an instruction manual for buying professionally or breaking into the gem trade on a wholesale level.

The discussion on treatments and enhancements for stones is worth the price of the book, honestly. (And not just for tourists to Sri Lanka! This info is good for -anyone- considering a stone purchase). 
Although the guide is slanted mostly toward the sapphire buyer, many of the Sri Lankan gemstones are included in shorter descriptions (moonstone, beryl, chrysoberyl including Alexandrite, some quartzes (amethyst), and a few others). I liked it very much that the author mentions in several different places that it's easy for the unwary to get carried away and be sold iolite as sapphire (it's emphatically not the same thing).

There is a fair bit of repetition in the chapters, but that could be intentional; to help the tourist who intends to read the salient bits which apply to their situation instead of reading it from cover to cover like a novel (or like an average reviewer ;) ).

I worked as a metal artist, goldsmith, and certified gemologist for over 16 years and I actually did learn some things from this book.  The text is also peppered with a large number of internet links which provide a good reference for the buyer.

Four stars.  If it saves just one person from the heartache of being cheated it's well worth it.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Whispered Word (Secret, Book, & Scone Society #2)

The Whispered Word is the second book in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams. Released 27th Nov 2018 by Kensington, it's 224 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

This is a comfortable cozy mystery series set in a fictitious small town in North Carolina. The town is renowned for its therapeutic healing, both physical and mental.  There is a very slightly magical 'vibe' to the healing, with sort-of magical baked & knitted goods and book therapy as an integral part of the deal.

The book is sweetly written and the secret society spends a fair bit of time making anonymous gifts to distribute to sad/lonely/needy people they know.  As they're delivering one of these "secret kindness tote bags" to a local woman, they discover her face down in a pond. That's the first murder. There are a few more in the course of the book.

As my late grandmother would've said, 'There's nothing here to shock a parson'...  There is very mild language (a 'sh*t' and a couple of 'd*mn's). There is also some mild sexual content (straight, and consensual). All of the above are in context in the story and not gratuitous.

There is a fair bit of description integral to the plot of abuse of a child and imprisonment.  I found it somewhat difficult to read in places.  It's -not- specifically graphic, but it is there and it is quite distressing.

The story as presented is self contained and any necessary back story and characterizations are included in the narrative, so it works well as a standalone novel.  I hadn't read the first book, and I had no trouble following the plot or keeping the characters separate.

It's a good, warm, comfortable, cozy series with a mostly female cast and a good denouement.

Four stars, recommended to fans of very lightly paranormal cozy mysteries. It would make a good book-club read and in fact, there is an included reader's question guide to help along a discussion group.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Campion at Christmas

Campion at Christmas is a re-format and re-release of a quartet of short stories by Margery Allingham.  Originally published as The Mysterious Mr. Campion in 1963, this release published 23 Nov, 2018 by Agora is a trim 64 pages and would make a lovely stocking stuffer for any ebook fans on the holiday list.

The four included vignettes are sweetly nostalgic.  I have read most (all?) of the Campion canon and was unfamiliar with these. 
Three of the 4 included stories are Campion stories and the last is an ironic short story more or less in the style of O. Henry.

On Christmas Day in the Morning
Happy Christmas
The Case of the Man With the Sack
Word in Season

I especially enjoyed the last of the 4, "Word in Season" and for me it felt the most 'Campion-like' of the stories.  Even though there was some magical realism tossed in, Campion reacted just as I would have imagined he would.

A lovely holiday read and I enjoyed it very much!

Four bright holiday stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Weaver's Folly (The Shadowspinner Chronicles #1)

Weaver's Folly is the first book in the new NA/YA Shadowspinner Chronicles series by Sarah Madsen. Released 15 March by Curiosity Quills, it's 263 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

This was a nice start to a new urban crossworlds fantasy series with a fair bit of shadowrunner technomancy.  It's well written and entertaining.  I am not really the target audience (in that I am not in any way young/new, and most would dispute the 'adult'), but I found it well plotted and (for a fantasy) believable. 

There are fae and other magical humanoids with their own desires and agendas. Their interactions with 'normal' humans are interwoven around a sort of 'mission impossible' framework; break into the most secure target imaginable, steal prints, acquire the target, etc etc.

At the end of the day, it's a techno-magic shadowrunner thriller with a hiiiiint of romance thrown in. The female lead is strong and relatively normal and I liked her relationship with her roommate/bestie Rose.

There is some mildly strong language as well as some (f/f) sexual content, and implied sex. There really isn't anything that would upset most readers of urban fantasy.

The author is a capable writer and has produced a well fleshed out world and enjoyable magic system.  It did occasionally feel like everything that the main character Alyssa did was more or less guaranteed to go right in the end.  I never felt much tension or threat and the denouement was well written, but not a surprise.

I liked this one a lot and will seek out the next book in the series. There's potential here.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Infernal Battalion (The Shadow Campaigns #5)

The Infernal Battalion is the fifth and final book in the high fantasy Shadow Campaigns series by Django Wexler. Released 9th January by Berkley publishing on their Ace imprint, it's 480 pages (over 2500 pages for the series) and available in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.

This is immersive campaign fantasy in a classic style.  It provides political action, campaigning, skulduggery, questing, magic and everything for the 'doorstop fantasy' nerd. I have followed the progress of the series and world building since the beginning, and will say right away that I believe that this final book would suffer greatly by attempting to read it as a standalone. There's way too much backstory and context necessary to be read by itself. 

Mr. Wexler does a superb job of maintaining detail oriented plot progression (i.e., character focused) and balancing it against the panoply of a huge world-sized political commentary.  In my opinion the focus remains balanced and the characters have a vital role in plot progression without being overshadowed by or lost inside the wider world-campaign. The pace of this last book might be slightly more rushed than the previous books in the series. Going over my review notes, there were a couple of times I felt that the author wanted closure and was pushing a bit to get there.  Then again, after over 2500 (!!) pages, who could possibly blame him?

One thing I admire about this series very much is the strength of the female characters.  They are emphatically not there to swoon and cling helplessly to the legs of their captors/saviors. They're real, flawed, strong, and (mostly) intelligent.

I enjoyed the series very much and thought this last volume did a good job of wrapping up the disparate plot threads.  It wasn't too perfect or happy-happy.  It was mostly complete.

The language is about average for a doorstop fantasy. There are a fair number of curse words used and some sexual content. I don't imagine it would offend the majority of readers. 

I'll miss looking forward to each new book as it's published. 

Four stars, and four strong stars for the completed series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thou Shell of Death (Nigel Strangeways #2)

Thou Shell of Death is a re-release of the second book in the Nigel Strangeways mystery series by Nicholas Blake. Originally published in 1936, this reformatting by Agora books is 266 pages and available in ebook format. Earlier editions are available in other formats.  Fun factoid: the author, Nicholas Blake, was the pseudonym of Cecil Day-Lewis, Poet Laureat and father of multiple academy award winner Daniel Day-Lewis.

I've mentioned multiple times that my favorite genre is mystery and especially English country house mystery. This is a superlative example of the craft and art.  There's a limited pool of suspects, an 'impossible' crime, a clever and sophisticated semi-professional sleuth and a country stately home murder mystery.

I really enjoyed the characterizations; the house party members really live and breathe and have motivations. The dialogue is beautifully written and never once feels clunky or mechanical.  I will say that the book was written in interwar period between WW1 and 2 and does show it in the assumption of cultural familiarity with some language and attitudes.  It's laced with unexplained Latin phrases (used very reasonably in context by a schoolmaster).  The meanings are self explanatory in the dialogue so it shouldn't detract for modern readers.

It's a wonderful thing to sit inside with a glass of wine on one side, a fireplace on the other side and enjoy a classic book whilst watching snow fall outside the windows.  The ritual of reading and relaxing this book filled me with joy.  It might have colored my perceptions to a very small degree, but I don't think so.  This is a solidly good book.  The denouement was really cleverly done.

It's possibly worth noting that (most of) the series is available to download and read for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.  I recommend buying them instead.  They're worth it.

Classic. Good stuff!

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

An Act of Villainy

An Act of Villainy is the 5th book in the Amory Ames mystery series by Ashley Weaver. Released 4th Sept 2018 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's press imprint, it's 309 pages and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.

I've been a fan of this series from the first book.  My favorite genre is classic mystery especially in the interwar period.  This one ticked all the boxes for me. Amory and her bounder(ish) husband Milo are drawn into the theatre world via a couple with whom the Ames' are social friends.  There is drama on and off stage and murder soon follows. 

This book (and the series) are well written and entertaining.  I like Amory's sensibility and grit.  She's quite sophisticated and social but there are subtle hidden depths to her strength and intellect.  She's nobody's fool.

I liked that the Ames' mostly managed to support one another and cooperate through the book.  Their recently strengthened marriage is played out in counterpoint to their friends the Holloway's, and when Gerald Holloway's mistress turns up murdered, Amory turns to detecting to help solve the murder and maybe help her friends at the same time.

The dialogue is well written and though it reads well to modern readers, it's fairly true to the period in which the book is set. In fact the series reminds me a lot of Hammett's Nick and Nora. Weaver isn't Hammett, but these books compare favorably and the author is still alive and still writing, long may she continue to do so!

Four stars, well worth a read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Knitting Ganseys, Revised and Updated

Knitting Ganseys, Revised and Updated is a re-release of a classic and meticulously researched piece of knitting history.  The traditional pullovers of the British Islands, ganseys,  (a corruption of 'Guernsey') were working garments, knitted in the round and seamless.  The shaping was done integrally during the knitting. This included the sleeves and waist, the areas with the most wear, so that they could ingeniously be removed and re-knitted as they wore out, thus saving the body of the sweater from having to be replaced. 

This rebooted version of the original (1993) classic by knitting historian Beth Brown-Reinsel, was released July 31st 2018 by Interweave and F+W Media.  It's 192 pages and available in hardback format.

The logical layout of this book is a huge plus.  It's easy to find thematic content with the index at the back of the book.  For such a meaty, content rich book, it's amazingly readable.  It really is comprehensive, both for history and culture surrounding the creation and use of these garments as well as in-depth instruction in how to recreate one for modern wearers.

The book is arranged in chapters starting with introductory chapters including some definitions, materials and history.  Each of the following chapters introduces a construction element along with a sampler of stitches and alternatives which can be incorporated architect style into a complete garment.  I loved the samplers because they remove the constraints of feeling pressured to have a goal in mind and allow the knitter to experiment and learn and explore.  This is so incredibly important, and the techniques learnt are more easily and permanently retained! 

These elemental chapters lead up to a penultimate chapter which shows how to design and construct an original garment to a desired measurement. Additionally, the author gives 9 step-by-step original design tutorials with very specific directions for knitters who feel more comfortable following a pattern.

This is a very generous book.  The author's warm and supportive teaching style are pleasant and well delivered.  It is also one of the very best books I've ever encountered covering the history and culture of the garment and its use in the coastal communities of Great Britain over the last couple of centuries. 

Sourcing materials can be challenging to some knitters, since the traditional yarns are not widely available. The author has included a good source list of e-tailers who can provide the proper yarns for the best results.

Five stars, classic, beautifully written, has withstood the test of time, and wonderfully useful and educational.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.